MANAGER Ruud van Nistelrooy has confirmed Leicester City have lost four key players to injury ahead of facing Saints on Saturday.

Mads Hermansen, Ricardo Pereira,  Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Facundo Buonanotte will all miss this game, having started Leicester's 3-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend.

The quartet of injuries adds to van Nistelrooy's list of unavailable players, which already included Stephy Mavididi and Saints bogeyman Abdul Fatawu.

“We are a lot thinner than before," van Nistelrooy said when previewing the game. "Mads Hermansen had an operation, so Jakub Stolarczyk will be in for the rest of the season.

“Ricardo Pereira came off with a muscle injury, so he will be out for a couple of weeks. Bobby De Cordova-Reid had a muscle injury.

“I don’t expect him to play any more this season. Facundo Buonanotte has a concussion. He’s in the protocol and will miss Saturday’s game.

“Stephy Mavididi, we won’t expect him to play this season any more. Abdul Fatawu is clear, he is not involved again this season.”

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Saints were hammered 5-0 at Leicester in the Championship last season.Saints were hammered 5-0 at Leicester in the Championship last season. (Image: PA)

Both Saints and Leicester have already been relegated to the Championship next season, but van Nistelrooy is unwilling to write this game off as meaningless.

This will be club legend Jamie Vardy's penultimate game at the King Power Stadium, and the Dutch coach wants to ensure the striker is given a fitting sendoff.

"There’s a combination of motivational factors that are important to consider. It’s the best possible farewell for Jamie," he explained.

“We are competing against Southampton, who we will compete against again next season (in the Championship).

Leicester City are struggling to score at home in the Premier League.Leicester City are struggling to score at home in the Premier League.

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"We need to finish the season on a positive, as much as possible, and take these moments into next season.

“That is where we need to find the motivation, and show that with our actions and behaviours on the pitch on Saturday.

“We need to react to a very disappointing result against Wolves, especially the first half. We conceded two in the second half, but we were a lot better.

“That intensity is important to take into the Southampton game. We want the season to end as positively as possible, within the situation of relegation.

"Things will continue next season, and this is preparation for next season. In that sense, it's an interesting fixture."