Leicester City manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy has welcomed the return of Ghanaian striker Jordan Ayew ahead of the trip to Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Saturday. Kick-off is at 3pm CAT.
Ayew was a notable absentee when the Foxes lost 2-0 to Premier League champions, Manchester City, on 29 December 2024 with Jamie Vardy leading the line and missing clear-cut scoring chances.
The Manchester United legend has since told a pre-match news conference on Thursday that the availability of the Black Stars attacker, who has registered four league goals this campaign, could inject more life into Leicester’s attack.
"We're looking to have Jordan Ayew back following suspension, which will help us," van Nistelrooy told the media. "Wout Faes has been training individually but joins back up with the squad today so we're hoping to have him as an option again soon.
"Kasey [McAteer] has been doing better. He is training individually at times, so he's not fully with the team. Saturday will be too soon but we'll hope to get him back in full training next week to, hopefully, be available against QPR."
What Ayew’s return means to Leicester
Van Nistelrooy started his reign at Leicester with a 3-0 win over West Ham United on December 3, 2024, but since then, the Foxes have failed to convince.
The return of the African star gives van Nistelrooy attacking options to start alongside Vardy with Ayew doing the running and the Englishman providing the finishing touch.
Zambian striker Patson Daka provides the Foxes with an attacking option to step in the shoes of either Vardy or Ayew while coming off the bench.
Leicester will be without Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen who is injured.
Villa are in sixth place, some 16 steps behind runaway leaders Liverpool while the Foxes sit six points off the foot of the table.
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