After playing every minute before his serious knee injury, Callum Doyle is now fit after three months out – but his return to the starting line-up for Leicester City is not guaranteed.
Doyle, a “very important player” according to his manager, Enzo Maresca, made a comeback from his injury in the New Year’s Day win over Huddersfield, with his first start coming in the FA Cup victory over Millwall. However, for the game against Coventry, Doyle was left as an unused substitute.
Having played every minute before his injury, Doyle’s absence was a big loss to the team, and Maresca lamented the lack of a left-footed defender to fill in during his absence. But James Justin stepped up and performed well in his place, making it difficult for Doyle to regain his spot.
Maresca emphasized the importance of his “player rules” which reward deputies for performing well while injured players are out, meaning they can keep their place even after the injured player is fit again. This may be the case for Justin retaining his spot over Doyle as well.
Maresca has encouraged Doyle to work hard in training to prove he deserves to earn back his place in the team. While his return is eagerly anticipated, it will not be handed to him on a silver platter. Doyle’s skill in the passing game has been highlighted with statistics showing his prowess in providing progressive passes and passes into the penalty area.
Ultimately, Doyle’s return to the starting line-up is not a given, and he will have to prove himself in training and on the pitch to win back his place in the team.
