Leicester City will not risk Harvey Barnes against Wolves this weekend as they aim to get him fit for Tuesday's crucial clash against Leeds United.
Barnes is nearing full fitness after missing the Foxes' 3-1 defeat at reigning champions Manchester City with a hamstring injury.
The winger, who is Leicester's top goal scorer this season with 10, has recovered to the extent where he could make the bench on Saturday.
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But interim manager Dean Smith is not willing to take the gamble in the fear that it could cause a recurrence of his injury.
“Harvey Barnes is ready to go on the grass, he’s been on the grass, but he’s not actually trained with us yet," Smith revealed in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
"I think it would be a risk to put him in on Saturday because we could lose him then for the six games. I’ve got to balance that risk. I know he will start training on Sunday and then be ready for Tuesday.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, he’s our top goal scorer. He’s a big player for us. I just have to balance the risk. He wouldn’t have been able to start this weekend, it would have been too quick for him. But he would have got minutes off the bench. The risk for him to re-injure was too big for me, so Tuesday’s a more realistic goal for him."
Leicester sit 19th in the table as it stands, and are four points behind Leeds, who are two points clear of danger with seven games remaining. The pair go head-to-head at Elland Road on Tuesday night in what promises to be an intense relegation six-pointer. And while the potential return of Barnes serves as a huge boost for the Foxes, Leeds will be less pleased to see the 25-year-old line-up against them.
Barnes has made a habit of punishing Leeds, and has scored more goals against them (six) than any other club in his career.
He has scored in each of his five Premier League meetings against the Whites, including the 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium earlier this season. And Barnes even got on the scoresheet in a resounding 4-1 win at the Hawthorns during his loan spell at West Brom in November 2018.
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