Rodgers highlights importance of Ndidi to Leicester, counting on him to resolve defensive issues

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers was on media duties on Wednesday before his side's Europa League meeting with Spartak Moscow and one of the questions the Northern Irishman was asked was whether Wilfred Ndidi and Jonny Evans playing together for ninety minutes could be the key to solving their defensive issues.

The Foxes have conceded twenty five goals in all competitions so far this season, including six in the Europa League.

More than half of those goals, thirteen in total, were conceded in seven matches without their influential number 25 tasting action.

Rodgers didn't give much away regarding whether Ndidi will make his comeback in tomorrow's game against the Muscovites but assured that the holding midfielder will be involved in some capacity against Leeds United on Sunday.

The Nigeria international has not kicked a ball in a competitive fixture since he aggravated a hamstring problem against Burnley on September 25 but has now resumed full training, even making the bench in the loss to Arsenal last weekend.

Rodgers told reporters : "I think having your best players of course always makes it easier for you.

"I think Wilf, in particular, in set pieces he offers us a great strength in having a midfield player that can join the defenders, gives you that great height and ability to defend.

"We've seen that now he's been back, whether he's going to be available or not for Thursday to put him in, okay we'll see, but it's certain he should be ready by the weekend."

Though Rodgers highlighted the importance of Ndidi to his squad, he is careful not to rush him back into action.

"He has trained really well, we just have to be careful and mindful of injury he's coming back from but there's no doubt over the period of time I've worked here defensively we've been strong in the main - our organization, our compactness, our tightness, our pressure.

"What we've done this season is that we've given away poor goals, we've chased games and also we need to run harder in certain areas of the field.

"We need to cover the space better and of course if you have someone like Wilfred that does do that so well then of course that's a real benefit to the team, so it's going to be great to have him back available. "

Prior to Ndidi's spell on the sidelines, he played nine games for Leicester City, all of which he started and went the distance with the exception of the 2-2 draw with Napoli he was shown a red card in stoppage time.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel