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Filip Benkovic is a long way behind in the battle for a starting spot in the Leicester City defence.

The Croatian spent last season on loan at Celtic following his £13m arrival from Dinamo Zagreb last summer, but will spend this campaign at the King Power Stadium.

Benkovic is yet to make a league appearance for the Foxes and it appears he won't be doing so any time soon, either.

The 22-year-old represented Croatia under-21s at the U21 European Championships in Italy during the summer, suffering another ankle injury.

And while he has since recovered, it has left him a long way behind his teammates both in fitness and in terms of the race for a starting role at centre-back.

Benkovic is behind starters Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu, and he likely finds himself behind back-up veteran Wes Morgan, too.

And that's the way it will stay until he can get up to speed with fitness and prove himself, according to City boss Brendan Rodgers.

“We can only play two centre-halves," said Rodgers. "One of them you’re all talking about (Caglar Soyuncu) and the other is an international captain (Jonny Evans).

“The thing with Filip was getting him fit and he’s training very hard. He’ll also play in the game on Friday, which is here, in the reserve game (Under-23s v Brighton).

“He was a bit behind in terms of fitness but he’s getting up to speed, he’s playing the games and hopefully he can put a challenge into our starting team.

“Centre-half isn’t a concern for me at the moment. I think the two of them are doing very well.

“But Filip’s getting fitter and stronger. And thankfully I’ve seen him when he’s been a really good level. He’ll hopefully challenge that when he’s up to full fitness.”

There has been some talk that Celtic could convince City to send Benkovic to Parkhead for another loan spell this season.

But Harry Maguire's exit has put paid to that possibility, Rodgers needing all four centre-backs and confirming: “Yes, he’ll stay, he won’t be going anywhere.”