Ricardo Pereira: Leicester defender out for up to six months after Achilles surgery
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Harvey Barnes (left) and Ricardo Pereira (right) were injured in Leicester's final pre-season friendly on Sunday
Leicester City full-back Ricardo Pereira will be out for up to six months after having surgery on a ruptured Achilles.
Manager Brendan Rodgers also said winger Harvey Barnes will be out for a few weeks with a minor knee injury.
Both players had to be withdrawn during Sunday's friendly win against Sevilla.
"It's such a shame because a lot of our game idea over the summer was based around full-backs and him [Pereira] in particular," said Rodgers.
"He was looking so good. It's a massive blow to him. He had his operation last night [Thursday] and he'll recover now, get strong again and come back better, I'm sure.
"He'll be a big miss for us but we have to push on."
Portugal international Pereira's 2019-20 season was cut short by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in March 2020 and the 28-year-old did not return to Premier League action until January 2021.
On 24-year-old Barnes, Rodgers added: "He'll come back and pick up where he left off because he's had a really good pre-season."
Rodgers also said left-back Ryan Bertrand is "still a number of weeks away" from contention because of a knee injury which kept him out for most of last season.
Maddison & Fofana 'not for sale'
Defender Jonny Evans has been named Leicester's club captain after the departure of long-serving goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for Nice.
There has also been interest in midfielder James Maddison, 25, and defender Wesley Fofana, 21, this summer.
Newcastle United made a second bid for Maddison this week while Leicester are reported to have turned down a bid from Chelsea for Fofana.
But Rodgers said: "These players are not for sale. You don't want to lose your top players.
"James and Wesley are training well and getting ready for our game on Sunday."
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