Portsmouth relegation rivals Leicester face anxious wait over injured top scorer
Leciester City face anxious wait over top-scorer Jordan James after he picked up an injury while in action for Wales on Thursday night
Pompey relegation rivals Leicester City will be anxiously awaiting news on one of their key performers before they can fully focus on their important Championship run-in.
The Foxes, who sit 22nd in the table and one point from safety, watched on as top-scorer Jordan James was forced off injured during Wales’ World Cup Finals play-off semi-final defeat at the hands of Bosina & Herzegovina on Thursday night.
The midfielder was substituted in the 56th minute of the game in Cardiff and replaced by Swansea’s Liam Cullen following a tackle by the visitors’ Amar Mecic.
It’s not clear year the extent of the injury picked up by the 21-year-old, who is on loan at the King Power Stadium from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
But Foxes boss Gary Rowett will be concerned as the former Birmingham midfielder limped off with the pain etched on his face.
Leicester in battle for Championship survival
Any potential period on the sidelines for James will come as a huge blow for the Foxes, who have seven games left to preserve their Championshup status.
Despite being ruled out for seven games at the start of 2026 with a hamstring injury, the Wales international remains Leicester’s top scorer this term with 10 Championship goals. He’s also chipped in with four crucial assists to ensure Rowett & Co have a fighting chance of remaining in the second tier of English football.
The Foxes find themselves in relegation trouble after being docked six points by the EFL for breaching financial rules. Their Championship status is also under threat, though, following just one win in their past 13 league outings, a run of form that also incorporates seven defeats.
The decision to sack manager Marti Cifuentes was taken at the end of January followng a defeat to fellow strugglers Oxford United, an 11th loss in 29 games for the Spaniard. However, successor Rowett has won just one of his seven matches in charge, leaving the former Premier League winners in the relegation zone and a point behind 21st-place Pompey, who have played a game less.
Both the Blues and the Foxes go head-to-head in a huge fixture at Fratton Park on Saturday April 18, a match many associated with the out-of-form Pompey believe is a must-win for John Mousinho’s side if they are to avoid a return to League One.
It remains to be seen, however, whether the influential James will be fit for that game after his latest match outing was cut short because of injury.
While Pompey - who have lost five of their past six league fixtures - travel to Norwich on their return to action following the international break, Leicester are at home to Preston North End on Good Friday.