Ruud van Nistelrooy says Leicester City will assess the injury that forced goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to be replaced in the 4-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Dane was substituted at half-time at St James’ Park with what Van Nistelrooy described as a groin injury.
When asked about Hermansen in the post-match press conference, Van Nistelrooy said: “When Mads comes off, it’s an injury. He felt some groin pain, so he couldn’t continue and so we have to assess what it is like.
“He couldn’t really tell but he was certain he couldn’t continue the game and make it worse. We have to assess.
“Hopefully, it’s not too much but we have to assess and obviously it’s not too good if he comes off like that.”
Hermansen’s replacement Danny Ward, who had not played in the Premier League since March 2023, conceded twice within the first five minutes of the second half from Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak before Murhpy scored his second of the game on the hour mark.
Hermansen played every minute of Leicester’s first 15 matches this season but Van Nistelrooy said there was “no need to jump to conclusions” when asked if the injury could lead to Leicester looking for further goalkeeping options when the January transfer window opens.
The defeat was Van Nistelrooy’s first since taking charge last month following the dismissal of Steve Cooper. He won his first match 3-1 against West Ham United before a 2-2 draw with Brighton.
Speaking about the result and performance against Newcastle, the Dutchman said: “You think 4-0 defeat, we defended bad. On the ball was our challenge. We weren’t structured enough in the first half to get possession going. Set pieces was a heavy influence today on the result.
“From defeat, you’re always going to learn more. We also spoke about the thin margins in the Premier League, where everything has to be right to get results. Today, in the setup, what we said before the game and the structure on the ball, things have to improve.”
Leicester are 16th in the table, two points above the relegation zone. They are next in action against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 22.
(Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
