Everton game against Leicester under threat with visitors low on players
Everton could see their midweek game against Leicester City postponed as Brendan Rodgers’ side are very low on senior players available, according to TalkSPORT.
COVID-19 cases have caused havoc on a number of Premier League games in recent weeks and the Africa Cup of Nations beginning has heightened the Foxes’ issues.
Leicester have four players at the tournament and other injuries keeping players out which could mean they are able to have the game called off due to a lack of senior players.
Not Good Enough
It’s been happening across the country this past month with teams able to call off games for COVID-19 related reasons.
But are these teams really unable to field a side?
It is understandable for League Two sides who mostly have a very limited squad and, in some cases, no academy to call upon.
But in the Premier League, every club has an extensive youth setup and there are Under-23 and Under-18 players who are desperate for a chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage.
It would be a huge disadvantage to have to play effectively a youth side in the Premier League but they would still be able to field a side and the league shouldn’t fold to the clubs on this.
Leicester played their FA Cup game against Watford with a youth team defender and they still won.
Leeds have been playing youngsters all season and carried on, that needs to be the precedent, not calling games off.
We can only hope the Premier League are able to see the issue with this rule that states a game can be called off if there are less than 13 senior players fit and removed it next season.
In other Everton news, Peter Reid has scolded Toffees’ boss Rafael Benitez about his previous comment on the club.