Steve Cooper addresses Tom Cannon’s Leicester City role with transfer window a factor

The striker was an unused substitute in Monday’s Premier League opener against Tottenham with Stephy Mavididi picked to play ahead of him as Jamie Vardy’s replacement

Tom Cannon’s immediate Leicester City future will be determined by the club’s transfer business over the final 10 days of the window, manager Steve Cooper has confirmed.

Cannon has struggled for minutes in pre-season and was an unused substitute during City’s Premier League opener. That’s despite the club’s injury issues at the top of the pitch.

Against Tottenham on Monday night, Cooper said Jamie Vardy declared himself available because City “didn’t have a fit striker”, suggesting Cannon was not under consideration to start. Then, when Vardy needed to be withdrawn in the second half of the 1-1 draw, winger Stephy Mavididi came on in his place, leaving the Republic of Ireland international to watch from the dugout.

Cannon has been the subject of Championship interest and it seems a loan move is on the cards should City bring in a striker before the window closes. Cooper has said they were close to two attacking arrivals last week, with one of those Czech forward Adam Hlozek, only for the deals to fall through.

Asked about Cannon’s role in the side this season before the meeting with Spurs, Cooper said: “I can better answer that when we know what the squad will end up looking like. For sure Tom’s a good young player who has a future in front of him. It’s our jobs as managers to put the best team out to win games, but it’s also to make sure we put the right programmes on for the younger players.

“We will do that with Tom. What that looks like at the moment I don’t know, but he’s very much part of today’s work. Until things change, that’s how it will be. But I’m probably better to answer that one closer to the end of the window.”

In his first season at City, Cannon played 16 games in all competitions, scoring three goals, but hasn’t had many opportunities since the winter. In City’s last 13 competitive games, going back to early March, the 21-year-old has played just 15 minutes of football.