Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester: Foxes lose 5th straight match without key Super Eagles powerhouse

Ruud van Nistelrooy continues to miss his Super Eagles midfielder.

Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester: Foxes lose 5th straight match without key Super Eagles powerhouse

Izuchukwu Akawor • Izuchukwu Akawor • 18:03 - 04.01.2025

The Super Eagles midfielder has not played for Leicester City since the draw against Brighton in December.

Leicester City faced another disappointing defeat, this time against Aston Villa, marking their fifth consecutive loss in the Premier League without Nigeria’s Wilfred Ndidi. 

The absence of the Nigerian midfielder was felt deeply as the Foxes continued to struggle to find their footing without their key player.

Since picking up a thigh injury during a match against Brighton in early December, Ndidi has been sidelined, and his team has not managed to secure a win or a draw in his absence. 

His contributions in midfield have been key since the arrival of new coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, and without him, Leicester's performance has faltered significantly. 

Ross Barkley celebrates his opener for Aston Villa.
Ross Barkley celebrates his opener for Aston Villa.

The latest match ended 2-1 in favour of Aston Villa, with Leicester unable to capitalise on their chances on Saturday evening.

The game saw Aston Villa take the lead with a goal from Ross Barkley, who punished a defensive error from the visitors at Villa Park. 

Wilfred Ndidi has been out since December (Photo Credit: Ndidi/Intagram)

Although Leicester managed to equalise through Stephy Mavididi, who scored after a scramble in the box, they could not hold onto the momentum. 

Jamaican star Leon Bailey's strike restored Villa's lead shortly after, leaving Leicester chasing the game once again.

Stephy Mavididi gave Leicester City hope with an equaliser.

Ndidi's absence has been particularly glaring as Leicester City fight to avoid relegation. His defensive prowess and ability to control the midfield have been sorely missed. 

Coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy acknowledged the challenges posed by Ndidi's injury, emphasising how crucial he is to the team's structure and strategy.

Wilfred Ndidi put in a defensive masterclass for Liecester in Ruud's debut.

As he continues his rehabilitation, Ndidi remains hopeful about returning to action soon. His recovery is vital not only for Leicester's campaign. ]