Leicester City’s injury return comes at the perfect time for Ruud van Nistelrooy
Jakub Stolarczyk makes season debut, playing 90 minutes in Under-21s' 1-1 draw with Everton in Premier League 2
Leicester City have received a timely injury boost as goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk made his first appearance of the season.
The 23-year-old Pole, who served as backup to Mads Hermansen during last season’s Championship-winning campaign, broke his foot in the second week of pre-season and has been sidelined ever since.
However, on Monday night, Stolarczyk played the full 90 minutes for the Under-21s in a 1-1 draw against Everton at Seagrave.
Stolarczyk’s return comes at a crucial time for Leicester, as Hermansen’s availability is uncertain.
The Danish number one played only 45 minutes in Saturday’s heavy defeat to Newcastle due to a groin injury and is being assessed this week.
Should Hermansen be unavailable, Stolarczyk now provides a reliable alternative for manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Last season, Stolarczyk earned a promotion over Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen under Enzo Maresca, making nine appearances across all competitions and keeping six clean sheets.
Highly regarded since his academy days, he was previously tipped for success by Brendan Rodgers and gained valuable experience during loan spells at Dunfermline and Hartlepool.
Known for his composure on the ball and impressive shot-stopping abilities, Stolarczyk caught the eye during his performances last term.
Danny Ward, who replaced Hermansen at St James’ Park, conceded three goals in 15 minutes and remains unconvincing among supporters, particularly following his struggles during the club’s relegation season.
Stolarczyk’s 90-minute outing against Everton could see him deemed ready for first-team action.
He nearly kept a clean sheet on Monday until Omari Benjamin equalized for Everton in the 83rd minute.
However, Harvey Godsmark-Ford salvaged a draw for City, heading home Logan Briggs’ corner in the 89th minute.
Leicester’s Under-21s now sit 14th in the Premier League 2 table after 10 games, marking the halfway point of the season. The top 16 clubs will advance to the end-of-season play-offs.
