Leicester City's James Justin damages ACL - set to miss extended period
By Tom Gott
Leicester City's James Justin is set to miss an extended period after manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed he had suffered an ACL injury in the recent win over Brighton.
Justin needed a stretcher to leave the field after appearing to damage his knee in Leicester's 1-0 win over the Seagulls in the FA Cup fifth round; a game which saw Kelechi Iheanacho pop up with the winner deep into second-half injury time.
Many fans were more concerned about Justin, who had landed awkwardly on his knee 20 minutes earlier, and the news on his injury appears to be as bad as initially feared.
Manager Brendan Rodgers revealed initial hope after the game that things looked worse than they actually were, but he has confirmed in his Friday press conference ahead of the game with Liverpool that he has sustained ACL damage.
"Sadly, for JJ, the scan hasn’t shown up so well, which is a massive blow for us," Rodgers said (via the club's official website). "He looks like he’s done his ACL, which is a devastating blow for us because he’s been incredible since he came into the team last year.
"He’s played in many positions. Wherever I’ve asked him to play, whatever position, he’s been a minimum eight out of ten and developing as a top Premier League player.
Full-back James Justin has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is expected to spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
— Leicester City (@LCFC) February 12, 2021
We're with you, @JamesJustin98 ?
"He was obviously walking around after the game and we hoped he would be okay, but of course, you have to wait until he gets the scan. He’s in London today (Friday) with our doctor, just trying to get all the expertise in terms of the next step.
"It’s a huge disappointment, but I know the boy. He’s tough mentally, that's what makes him the player he is, and tough physically and he’ll be a better player for it."
Justin has been one of the breakout stars of the Premier League this season. Having only really broken into the side after lockdown interrupted the 2019/20 season, the 22-year-old was a mainstay this year before his injury, helping out all over Leicester's back line.
Because of his ability to keep clean sheets as well as pop up with goals at the other end of the pitch, Justin has been a popular choice among Fantasy Premier League managers, many of whom will now be considering what to do next.
When it comes to FPL replacements, West Ham's Aaron Cresswell continues to shine, as do Leeds' Stuart Dallas and Aston Villa's Matt Targett. However, if you can find a little bit of extra cash to splash, think about turning to either of Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo.