Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes: Fatawu will be in "optimal condition" after international break

Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes has assured fans that Abdul Fatawu Issahaku will be in "optimal condition" when the Foxes return to Championship action against Oxford United next weekend.

The Ghana winger has been excused from Black Stars duty during the September international break following discussions between the medical teams of both club and country.

Fatawu only recently returned from an eight-month injury lay-off after suffering an ACL problem last November while on international duty.

With concerns about fatigue and Ghana set to play on an artificial pitch in Chad, the decision was taken to allow him to remain in England and continue his recovery programme.

"We are trying to protect him. He is still coming back from this injury. The international break will be very good for him," Cifuentes explained.

"Since I arrived here, the progress on the minutes he’s playing and the way we are managing the training, he’s getting better and better. When we are back, I’m sure he’s going to be in an optimal condition."

The 21-year-old raised some concern after being helped off during Leicester’s 2-0 win over Birmingham City last Friday, but the club confirmed he had only suffered from cramp.

He was later seen celebrating with teammates at full-time.

Elsewhere, right-back Hamza Choudhury is a doubt for the Oxford clash after Bangladesh reported he had picked up an injury.

In more positive news, forward Bobby De Cordova-Reid has returned to training and could feature for the first time under Cifuentes.

Long-term absentees Victor Kristiansen (knee) and Harry Souttar (Achilles) remain unavailable, though Souttar is expected to rejoin training in November.