Gary Rowett revealed that the team has no new injuries, but several players still need to be monitored.

Gary Rowett revealed that Jordan James and Aaron Ramsey are still under evaluation before heading to Portsmouth. Jordan James was included in the substitutes' squad last week in the Championship defeat to Swansea City. He came on as a substitute for the final 17 minutes in the King Power Stadium match, marking his first appearance since injuring his heel during international duty last month.  

Ahead of Saturday's match against the South Coast side, Gary Rowett provided an update on the Welsh midfielder's condition. He stated, "We have no new injuries, but a few players still require further observation. The most significant is Jordan James, who is still experiencing soreness and discomfort in his heel, so I haven't included him in the starting lineup for the weekend."  

"We will likely remain in this situation on Saturday. The key issue is his injury; his heel has been very painful. Every time he tries to play 20 minutes in a game or participate in training, it gets worse, and sometimes he even needs to rest for a few days."  

"He's feeling pretty good. Of course, he has to complete the training assessment before he can play, because we need to make sure his physical condition is good enough to withstand different stages of the game. This may delay his return a little. Sometimes he wakes up in the morning feeling perfectly fine, but that doesn't mean it's a serious injury."  

"It's just a matter of time, and whether he can perform at the expected level on the field is crucial. We also need to assess the potential impact, meaning it's still uncertain whether he can play on Tuesday. All these decisions will be made in consultation with the medical team."  

“He was in a very positive mood when he came back from Wales, but his condition has fluctuated a bit in the last few days because the injury has not completely subsided and he can still feel pain. I believe that in another two or three days, he may wake up one morning feeling fully recovered, and this problem should not recur.”  

Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey is still awaiting his 2026 debut due to a hamstring injury, but the team may have a chance to see the attacking midfielder return before the end of the season. He continued: "Aaron Ramsey has resumed training, so we will assess when he can return to the game. Of course, like Jordan James, he has the ability to score goals. If conditions permit, you certainly want to have as many options as possible on the bench."  

“Sometimes, if a player hasn’t fully recovered to match fitness, no matter how important the game or how urgent the situation, we won’t start him. This is a decision we have to make. Apart from that, the overall lineup hasn’t changed much. There are many types of risks. Some injuries can be played through without too much concern about the aftereffects, but there are also situations where it’s not appropriate to take risks. The key is whether the player can fulfill your tactical requirements for him, not just whether he is willing to take risks.”  

"It makes no sense if a player comes on injured and plays for 10 to 15 minutes, then gets substituted at the end of the game. We can't let any player be in that situation. Every injury is different, and you have to make the right judgment. You can't just put a player on the court and risk a minor injury becoming a major one. Towards the end of the season, when you talk about the importance of the season, these discussions become more urgent. But ultimately, it doesn't really change your assessment of the entire season."  

Image source: Internet/Leicester City official website