James Justin’s early return from Achilles injury has Dean Smith ruing what he ‘could have had’
Dean Smith admits he wishes James Justin was able to help their survival bid after being left out of Leicester’s Premier League squad due to injury… as he laments ‘what I could have had’
- England defender was left out of the 25-man Premier League squad in January
- James Justin returned early and Dean Smith joked about not wanting to see him
- The English full back sustained the injury just before the World Cup in Qatar
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Dean Smith has told Leicester doctors to keep James Justin out of his sight as he knows that the fit-again England defender is unable to help them escape relegation.
Justin has impressed the Leicester boss in training since returning from an Achilles tendon injury suffered before the World Cup — but he is not in the Foxes’ Premier League squad.
When Leicester re-submitted their 25-man list in January, under Smith’s predecessor Brendan Rodgers, Justin was left out because they thought the injury would keep him out for the rest of the season.
However, he has returned ahead of schedule, leaving Smith to feel like he is a contestant on Bullseye, with Jim Bowen about to wheel out the speedboat he could have won.
James Justin returned early from an Achilles injury sustained before the World Cup
The player was left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad in January and Dean Smith has joked about not wanting to see the defender
‘He is training with the group,’ said Smith, whose side face Everton on Monday. ‘I’ve told the doctors to keep him away from me, because it’s one of those things where it’s “This is what you could have had!”
‘He’s a good player and he’s been really good and bright in the sessions so far. It’s nice to have him around the group.
‘Yeah, possibly [he would be match fit by the end of the season] but he’s not in the Premier League squad so he can’t make it.’
Jannik Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand were given squad places over Justin but neither has played in the league since the list was announced.
