Leicester City manager Gary Rowett is facing a logistical nightmare as he prepares his squad for the upcoming Good Friday clash against Preston North End, with international travel schedules set to dictate at least two major selection calls. The primary concern centers on Patson Daka, whose grueling journey back from South America has left the coaching staff questioning whether he can lead the line so soon after competing on the other side of the Atlantic.
Daka’s involvement for Zambia saw him feature in the final thirty minutes of a heavy 5-0 defeat to world champions Argentina. However, the issue isn’t just the result, but the timing; because the match was held in Buenos Aires, it did not kick off until 12:30 AM UK time on Wednesday morning. With the match against Preston scheduled for 3 PM this Friday, Daka is left with a window of less than 48 hours to travel halfway across the globe, overcome jet lag, and complete any meaningful tactical preparation.
While Daka remains the preferred choice up front—despite a recent penalty miss against Watford—Rowett may be forced to turn to veteran Jordan Ayew. Although Ayew was also busy during the break, representing Ghana in matches against Austria and Germany, his logistics are far more favorable. Having played in Stuttgart on Monday night, Ayew has benefited from an extra day of recovery and a significantly shorter flight back to the East Midlands, making him the fresher candidate for the King Power Stadium showdown.
The “Atlantic hangover” isn’t limited to the forward line, as Bobby De Cordova-Reid finds himself in a nearly identical situation to Daka. The winger was in action for Jamaica in Mexico on Tuesday night, playing 80 minutes in a heartbreaking World Cup qualifying play-off loss to DR Congo. Between the emotional toll of missing out on the finals and the late-night Tuesday kickoff, his readiness for a Friday afternoon start is under serious scrutiny.
Further complicating Rowett’s plans is an injury to Jordan James, who returned from Wales duty with a knock. This likely paves the way for Manchester City loanee Divine Mukasa to step into the creative role behind the striker. Unlike his senior teammates, Mukasa’s international window was less taxing; he finished his stint with the England Under-19s with a short substitute appearance on Tuesday afternoon, leaving him primed to fill the void left by the injured James. Rowett’s earlier warnings about the “added challenge” of the Good Friday fixture are now being put to the ultimate test.
