Leicester City manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy has expressed his disappointment over the season-ending injury of Ghanaian winger Fatawu Issahaku as the Foxes prepare to face Manchester City in a crucial Premier League encounter.

The highly anticipated clash sees Leicester host a struggling Manchester City side, but Van Nistelrooy admits the absence of Issahaku is a significant setback for his team.

“I think with Fatawu out on a cruciate, that was a big blow just a week before I started. It’s a massive loss for this team,” the Leicester boss stated during a pre-match interview.

The 19-year-old suffered a devastating knee injury during Ghana’s African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola, forcing him to miss the final group game against Niger. The injury also contributed to Ghana’s disappointing campaign, as they failed to qualify for the tournament.

Issahaku, who joined Leicester from Sporting CP, is currently undergoing rehabilitation. His absence will extend into next year, ruling him out of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar in March.

As Leicester fight to maintain their spot in the Premier League, Van Nistelrooy will have to find a way to cope without the dynamic winger, whose creativity and pace have been sorely missed.