Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers was thrilled to have Daniel Amartey back in the Foxes fold in Saturday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Blackburn Rovers, with the Ghanaian midfielder scoring on the occasion.
The 25-year-old has been out with an ankle injury for nearly two years, last playing in a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham United on October 27, 2018.
Amartey did make attempts for a comeback, first being an unused substitute in a third-round 4-0 EFL Cup victory at Luton Town on September 24, 2019, before getting involved with the reserves in December.
He was, however, not able to make any first-team appearances for the 2019-20 season which Leicester finished in fifth place after holding onto third place for much of the campaign.
He gave the Foxes the lead in Saturday’s friendly in the 67th minute before Derrick Williams equalised for Blackburn eight minutes from time.
“They're a team that will be up challenging in the Championship next season. It was always going be a really good test for us, but I'm pleased for the likes of Daniel Amartey coming back, in his first game in a long time,” Rodgers said on the club website.
Rodgers stated he was pleased with the performances of his players which was a mix of regular first-team players and young players on the fringes. One player who did not play in his usual spot was Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi. He was deployed as a centre-back for the game instead of defensive midfield.
“Again, it's more minutes in the legs for our senior players and established first-team players, and for some of our young players, a chance for them to come in and play with a little bit of pressure, even though it's pre-season, and feel a tempo and intensity at this level,” Rodgers continued.
“I think before the end of the window shuts, it will be an opportunity for a number of them to get out and get games because they need to play if they're going to improve under pressure. If they're not going to be here, that is.
“But I think they came in and they worked very, very hard, and just a little spell at the end of the game, when they're under a little bit of pressure and they concede late on, it's good for them to feel that pressure to make sure they don't concede again.
“So yes, I've been pleased with them, the training attitude's being absolutely brilliant. It's really helped us over this period of the pandemic, but also when the international players have been away.”
Leicester will hope to book a Champions League spot this season starting with an away Premier League trip to newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion next Sunday.
A great moment for @DanAmartey ????
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 5, 2020
Back with a goal! pic.twitter.com/WChI6dXSHk
