Nottingham Forest host Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday as they look to cause another upset in the competition.
After knocking out Premier League giants Arsenal in the third round last month, the current holders of the trophy are the next to come to the City Ground as Forest look to repeat their feat.
Ahead of the game, Brendan Rodgers’ side have had more than their fair share of injury problems, especially in defence.
Their third round clash against Watford saw the Foxes have to play midfielder Hamza Choudhury, winger Marc Albrighton and debutant Lewis Brunt in their backline.
Despite that, Leicester came out as 4-1 winners to set up the fourth-round tie at the City Ground.
In the following weeks, Leicester’s injury problems have eased. The return of Caglar Soyuncu from injury and Daniel Amartey from Africa Cup of Nations duty means that their backline is now not so makeshift.
Brendan Rodgers will also be boosted with the return of midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and striker Kelechi Iheancho for the game after Nigeria’s shock exit from AFCON last week.
Leicester were also without Zambian striker Patson Daka for the game against Watford but the forward has scored in both of his games since his return to action, easing the blow of losing Jamie Vardy to injury.
Ahead of the trip to the City Ground, the Foxes have also been given a more unexpected boost with full-back Ricardo Pereira pictured in training as the team stepped up their preparations.
The Portuguese international had been expected to be out until later in the month after suffering a fractured fibula in December’s League Cup defeat against Liverpool, causing him to miss the last five games in all competitions.
However, pictures appear to show the player taking part in full training with Rodgers not including the 28-year-old in his injury update when giving the timeline of returning players .
Whether Ricardo will be deemed fit enough to start the game or take a place on the bench is still to be seen.
Leicester will still be without at least six players for the game at the City Ground with Vardy, Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans, Timothy Castagne and Ryan Bertrand all missing through injury.
Midfielder Nampalys Mendy will also miss the game due to being on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal.
