LONDON • Jamie Vardy will miss Sunday's FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur after surgery on a groin injury.

The 28-year-old, who has scored 15 goals this season, may be fit for the Premier League game against the same opposition three days later, but the setback is a reminder of the player's huge importance to Leicester City.

Leicester, at least, have no long-term worries over the forward's fitness, despite the Englishman's inability to find the net in his last four matches.

Claudio Ranieri, the manager, had already planned to rest several of his regular first-team players for the Cup game at White Hart Lane.

Vardy was unlikely to feature, and so the timing was perfect for the striker to undergo a minor operation.

The striker endured a frustrating afternoon on Saturday as Leicester's winless and indeed goal-less streak was extended to three games in a stalemate with Bournemouth.

The home supporters, though, would have been excited to learn of their side's pursuit of Demarai Gray, the Birmingham City winger.

The 19-year-old is expected to complete his £3.75 million (S$7.9 million) move to the King Power Stadium after undergoing a medical examination on Saturday.

Leicester, lying second in the league despite a defeat and back-to-back draws, have been tracking Gray for some time along with a host of other clubs such as Bournemouth, Southampton and Tottenham.

THE TIMES, LONDON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE