Martin cautious on Cadiz, hopeful for Malaga return
Leicester City manager Russell Martin has revealed that two players are dealing with minor problems and may be available during the club’s training trip to southern Spain, while a third will be closely monitored after suffering a knock in Saturday’s win at Burton Albion.
Martin confirmed that Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Woyo Coulibaly have both been carrying small issues. De Cordova-Reid featured for 45 minutes in the season-opener at Northampton Town before missing subsequent victories over Bristol Rovers and Burton, and Coulibaly sat out the Burton match after playing as a winger the previous Tuesday.
The manager indicated that the pair are likely to be back in contention soon but cautioned that the schedule means Cádiz, the midweek opponent, may come too early for them. He suggested Málaga later in the week is the more realistic target for their returns.
- Bobby De Cordova-Reid – 45 minutes at Northampton, missed following two matches.
- Woyo Coulibaly – featured earlier in the week, rested for Burton.
- Hamza Choudhury – substituted late after receiving a kick; to be monitored.
Choudhury came on at half-time at the Pirelli Stadium and was withdrawn in the 88th minute, with academy midfielder Ryan Donnelly replacing him. Martin said the midfielder had been managing a minor issue before receiving the kick, but that he had impressed during his 40 minutes on the pitch and would be carefully assessed.
“He had been carrying a small issue and then received a kick… he impressed in 40 minutes but would be monitored,” Martin said.
Immediate implications for preseason and squad management
The updates underline the careful approach the club’s coaching staff are taking during this phase of the season. Preseason fixtures and training camps are used to build fitness and fine-tune tactics, but they also present an opportunity to manage workloads and avoid aggravating niggles before competitive action resumes.
| Fixture | Timing |
|---|---|
| Cádiz | Wednesday (south of Spain) |
| Málaga | Saturday (south of Spain) |
Managerial caution is likely to shape selection for the Spain double-header. With De Cordova-Reid and Coulibaly described as having "minor issues," club medics and the coaching team will balance the benefit of game minutes against the risk of further injury. For supporters, the absence of those players from the Cádiz match may be disappointing, but their potential return for Málaga offers hope of increased options as preparations for the coming season continue.
Leicester’s trip to Spain forms part of the wider 2026/27 preparatory schedule. The club will monitor all players returning from the trip, and any changes to availability will be communicated ahead of domestic fixtures. For now, Martin’s message is measured: small problems, managed carefully, with the expectation that the two forwards could be available within the coming week.
