Van Nistelrooy hopes trio will be back to face Gunners

RUUD van Nistelrooy will hope three Leicester City players overcome their “light injuries” in time to face Arsenal this weekend.

The City manager was without regular starters Jamie Vardy, Jannik Vestergaard and Victor Kristiansen for the FA Cup defeat at Manchester United on Friday night.

Van Nistelrooy had signalled he was dealing with some “light injuries” before the game but didn’t say who, hoping that they would prove their fitness in time to make the trip to Old Trafford.

But once the three players were left out of the squad, it was confirmed they were the men who had been dealing with minor issues.

However, none are expected to miss the home match against

Arsenal on Saturday (12.30pm). The trio have had plenty of time to recover from their knocks, and van Nistelrooy will provide an update on their fitness later this week.

If they do pull through, all three would be expected to be included in the starting line-up, especially Vardy and Kristiansen.

Vestergaard’s place is under threat though after Caleb Okoli’s performance at Old Trafford, which van Nistelrooy described as “excellent”.

With the trio available, and Wilfred Ndidi back after making his first appearance in two months on Friday, City’s injury list would be down to just two players.

Ricardo Pereira (hamstring) is due to be back in contention from March, but Abdul Fatawu (knee) is out for the season.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are set to be missing attacking trio Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and now Gabriel Martinelli, who hurt his hamstring in the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle.

But defender Ben White may make his return to the pitch, having been seen back in training at the Gunners’ warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

He has been out since knee surgery in November.