Harvey Barnes ruled out for six weeks and will need surgery, confirms Brendan Rodgers in huge Leicester injury blow
BRENDAN RODGERS confirmed Harvey Barnes will need surgery on his knee and will likely be sidelined for at least six weeks.
The Leicester star left the field on a stretcher on Sunday as the Foxes were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.
And now Rodgers has confirmed Barnes, 23, will now go under the knife to fix a cartilage issue, that has been niggling him in recent games.
Rodgers said: “It’s not good news for Harvey. It looks like he needs an op and is probably going to be out for a minimum of six weeks.
“Harvey has been outstanding all season and I just hope that can get back for some period of the season, but it’s a bad one for him and a massive blow for us.
“He’s had niggles with a bit of cartilage that has come loose for a while now and we’ve tried to rest him and take the pressure off.
“He had a clash of knees in a game a few weeks ago so it’s been irritable and unfortunately today it has got worse.”
Barnes’ setback means he will also miss England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
The young midfielder has scored nine goals and assisted four more in the Premier League so far this season and was pushing for a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championships this summer.
But the knee injury he has now suffered will mean it could be very difficult for him to force his way into the England set-up.
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Barnes’ only England cap came as a substitute against Wales back in October.
Leicester now have a long list of injuries which includes James Maddison, Ayoze Perez, James Justin and Wesley Fofana.
Centre-back Johnny Evans will also undergo a scan on a calf problem as Rodgers’ fitness issues continue to pile up.
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