Tom Cannon arrived from Everton on deadline day, but his debut does not appear to be imminent.
Leicester City’s start to the 2023-24 Championship season has been excellent, despite suffering their first defeat shortly before the international break against Hull.
Inflicting Enzo Maresca’s first setback as head coach, the Tigers defeated Liam Rosenior’s team 1-0, with all four Foxes matches prior to that being one-goal triumphs.
The Italian’s team is still coming together, as Leicester conducted a lot of business during the summer, which was much required given that a number of senior players left, including James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Youri Tielemans, and Caglar Soyuncu.
Maresca and sporting director Jon Rudkin were given the tools they needed to re-invest and reinforce the first-team squad, bringing in a combination of established experience like Harry Winks and Conor Coady, as well as younger talents like Cesare Casadei and Abdul Issahaku Fatawu.
Leicester’s last piece of business came on transfer deadline day, when they shockingly entered the competition for Everton hot-shot Tom Cannon – and won the fight to sign the Republic of Ireland youth international after his eight-goal haul on loan for Preston North End last season.
The Foxes are said to have paid a sum of roughly £7.5 million, including potential add-ons, but the mysterious City injury curse looks to have already hit the 20-year-old.
Maresca’s announcement that Cannon will be out this weekend was brief, but it does not appear like he will be back anytime soon.
“Tom Cannon is out with some problems,” Maresca informed the media during the Southampton pre-match news conference (September 14, 11:13am), according to LeicestershireLive’s blog.
Cannon had a hamstring injury in pre-season for Everton, delaying his loan move earlier in the transfer window, but he was completely healed by the end of August and appeared briefly for the Toffees against Wolves in the Premier League.
Who will lead Leicester’s attack against Southampton?
Cannon, if fit, might have been thrust right into the starting 11 because Jamie Vardy hasn’t exactly been blazing on all cylinders this season in his advanced years and Kelechi Iheanacho is still to break his league drought.
Iheanacho has started in recent weeks, with the Nigeria international still at the King Power Stadium.
Iheanacho brings Premier League experience to a lower level, and you’d think he’d be among the goals for Leicester this season, but he’s only played five Championship games this season, and he’s yet to score under Maresca, despite scoring against Burton Albion in the EFL Cup.
There’s also Patson Daka to consider, who has only been in two matchday squads in all competitions so far and was expected to leave earlier this month on deadline day.
However, the Zambian saw bids to AC Milan and Bournemouth fall through, so he will now be an option for Maresca until he returns from the African Cup of Nations.
