Leicester City midfielder Nampalys Mendy could be out of action for up to five weeks following ankle surgery, manager Claudio Ranieri has confirmed.
Having signed for the Premier League champions for a then club record £13m, the former Nice midfielder has featured in just one league game so far this season, picking up an injury before the hour mark against Arsenal back in August.
Speaking toLeicester's official club websitebefore his side's Champions League encounter with FC Copenhagen, Ranieri described the injury as 'unlucky', and revealed he was not completely sure when the former France U21 international would be back in action.
Mendy was unlucky,� Ranieri revealed.
In the last training session he had a little fracture of the bone. I think today (Monday) he is in surgery just to clean this little fragment of bone out.
It depends how long, it could be four weeks or five weeks. I don't know. He was an unlucky man.�
Ranieri also confirmed striker Shinji Okazaki's availability for the Copenhagen clash after the Japan international was left out of the Foxes squad for their weekend match against Chelsea.
"Shinji didn't play [against Chelsea] because every time he comes back from international matches he is not Shinji. He needs to recover a little more for this reason I put him in the stand.
"He is very important for us and a fantastic player and he can help us a lot. He is available."
Despite playing well in Europe so far this season, Leicester are winless in the Premier League since their 3-0 win over Burnley back in September, and have endured heavy defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea in recent weeks.