Leicester City: Manager Nigel Pearson disappointed for injured striker Tom Hopper

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has expressed his disappointment at the injury which has stalled young striker Tom Hopper's progress.

Hopper has broken into Pearson's first-team squad this season but has picked up a stress fracture of his leg.

The 19-year-old could face several weeks on the sidelines and Pearson said the injury was unfortunate, but the experience could make him stronger.

"He had some pain in his shin so we had it scanned and you can sometimes get these sorts of problems in young lads," he said.

"It is a stress fracture, so we will have to be careful how we move forward.

"He has done really well so far. He has broken into the squad. Although he hasn't had pitch-time, the players and the staff recognise the strides he has made in the past 12 months.

"It is disappointing for him but it is part-and-parcel of growing up in football.

"You have to deal with the disappointments. Ultimately, those are the situations that define you, whether you are a player or manager.

"It is dead easy to enjoy the good moments, it is dealing with the difficult times that really do shape how you maximise what you have got."

Experienced defender Sean St Ledger continues to have treatment after picking up an injury on international duty, and Pearson admits it is another set-back for the centre-back, although he stressed the injury was not as bad as first feared.

"It is not as bad as we thought it might be but, again, because he has had one or two injuries this year, it is important for him to get some decent training time in there once he is back to give him the chance of remaining fit," said Pearson.

"It is unfortunate for him as he hasn't played a lot of football this season.

"It is a set-back for the player and a set-back for us."