adminLeicester City’s main hope during the international break was to avoid injuries. If there was one player they would have wanted to come through unscathed, it would have been their star man and top scorer, Jordan James.
Instead, the worst-case scenario unfolded. James limped off during Wales’ penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina after picking up what appeared to be an Achilles injury. Although he initially continued after treatment, he was forced off in the 55th minute.
The club will now assess the midfielder to determine the extent of the injury. At the same time, manager Gary Rowett must decide how to replace him in the team.
If Rowett sticks with the 4-2-3-1 system used in away games, there are several options to fill the number 10 role. Bobby De Cordova-Reid is a strong candidate, having experience in the position and previously used there by Rowett.
Divine Mukasa is another option. He impressed in his early matches under the manager with creativity and goal contributions, though his recent form has dipped slightly.
There is also Aaron Ramsey, who is returning from injury. The Burnley loanee has not played in 2026 and was close to making his comeback against Watford before illness ruled him out. While he showed promise earlier in the season, concerns remain about his fitness.
At home, Rowett has recently preferred a 4-3-3 system, using James in a deeper midfield role. In those setups, he partnered De Cordova-Reid against Bristol City and Mukasa against QPR, often acting as the more box-to-box midfielder.
Replacing him in that role is more difficult. While De Cordova-Reid, Mukasa, or Ramsey could fill in, using two of them together may leave the team defensively exposed.
Rowett has alternative solutions. He could bring Harry Winks back into the base of midfield and push Oliver Skipp into a more advanced role. Another option is Joe Aribo, although the Southampton loanee has yet to start under the current manager.
A final possibility is Louis Page. The young midfielder was previously seen as a backup to James in that role, but has not featured under Rowett, who has preferred more experienced players. It would be a surprise if he is recalled now.
With crucial matches ahead, Leicester must quickly find a solution if James is ruled out, as his absence could have a major impact on their survival hopes.
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