Leicester City manager Gary Rowett has dismissed the conventional belief that international breaks provide valuable time for managers to work with their squads, describing the upcoming fortnight as the “worst period” for the club.
With 11 players called up to represent their countries, including key attacking talents Jordan James, Abdul Fatawu, Jordan Ayew, Patson Daka, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Divine Mukasa and Jeremy Monga, Rowett faces a depleted training ground at Seagrave.
The Foxes do not return to action until Good Friday’s fixture against Preston North End, yet the Friday scheduling presents an additional complication. Many international players will not report back until Thursday, leaving just 24 hours of preparation time before kick-off.
“We’ve got two weeks with a lot of the players not here,” Rowett explained. “That’s the challenge. Then, it’s a Friday game and a lot of the players will come back on the Thursday, which adds to the challenge.”
The former Birmingham and Derby boss continued: “Sometimes that international break, the thought process of being able to work with your squad, it’s actually completely the opposite. It’s probably the worst period of time because you don’t get to work with your squad.”
Despite these difficulties, Rowett remains positive about the opportunities available to those remaining at the club. The break allows additional fitness work for players who have featured less frequently, while several injured players are expected to return to bolster training numbers.
City’s next opponents Preston have struggled recently, sliding down the Championship table despite ending a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Stoke City on Friday.