Abdul Fatawu will be in Leicester City's locker room on Sunday night and will see while his teammates go through his warm -up before facing Manchester United.
If the popular end of £ 14 million could run to the field instead of suffering an ACL lesion that ends the season in November, it is likely that the foxes are not in their current descent situation, since they had lost their last six games at home without scoring.
Leicester was out of the last three when Fatawu was affected by Ghana against Angola. His emotional manager Steve Cooper called him in Africa to find out what had happened. Cooper lost his work after the next game, a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea and City have met in trouble since then.
Although the current Ruud Van Nistelrooy manager has failed to improve the results, his role in helping Fatawu, Leicester's greatest asset, can be invaluable in the long term.
In 2000, the transfer proposed by Van Nistelrooy to Manchester United was delayed after he suffered his own terrible ACL that kept him out of the game for a year. However, he returned to become one of United's best strikers and then Real Madrid star.
Although the Dutchman is under great pressure to keep Leicester in Alto, Fatawu, 21, says that the manager found a lot to offer advice and encouragement, what he would like to pay.
Abdul Fatawu by Leicester City has described Ruud van Nistelrooy as “like a father” for him
Van Nistelrooy has given Fatawu's advice and encouragement after his paralyzing ACL injury
The foxes may have avoided a descent fight if Fatawu was completely fit instead of the margin
“Ruud has been like a father for me,” reveals the young African. 'He knew his story as a player, but he has also been a good friend, always helpful and there for me.
'He tells me about what happened in his career. He went through the same.
'He tells me that his injury was the moment he did who he is today. It became even stronger and says it can also happen to me. I just need to concentrate.
I would be very happy to have the opportunity to play for him. He has shown both interest in helping me as a injured player, imagine what would be like if he can play and help the team. I can't wait for me to develop as a footballer.
Fatawu has spent up to six hours a day in rehabilitation in the Foxes training field, six days a week. He thinks that the left knee he damaged now is stronger than his right. It is a long shot that will appear this season, but trusts that it will be completely ready for the beginning of the preseason.
If Nistelrooy are there it is uncertain. The King Power has been toxic in recent weeks, although the City Board and football director Jon Rudkin receive more heat from fans than the manager.
Despite his age, Fatawu has already experienced a lot. First kicking a ball on ground tracks in Tamale in northern Ghana, he joined an academy at eight, realized that he could make a professional career at age 13 and went to Sporting Lisbon at age 16. He briefly played with Ruben Amorim before fulfilling his dream of coming to England.
After taking Leicester to the promotion, he exceeded the lists of the Premier League for played by game and was second for dribbles by game behind Jeremy Doku when he suffered his injury.
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Fatawu is desperate to play with Van Nistelrooy when he is fit to pay for his support
The long dismissal has given him a perspective of life. To mark his birthday of the 'majority' last weekend, he donated food and water to an orphanage in Ghana, and invited friends for Ifar, the fast food that Muslims have during Ramadan.
'I have learned a lot from my injury. It has made me realize how important football is in my life, 'he says. 'I have had a lot of help, not only the manager, but teammates such as Ricardo Pereira and James Justin, who have also had this injury.
'When it happened, I thought I had twisted my knee. I tried to keep playing, but the pain was too much, I could not continue. We fly from Angola to Ghana and had a scan the next morning.
'Some things simply happen but, of course, I felt bad because Leicester needed me. We will not know if the results would have been different, but I feel that I would have had a good season.
'I like to have the ball and create, sometimes risk. If there is no way, try to find a way. That's why I like to haggle.
Leicester players who are not in the team's team arrive at the stadium one hour before the start to be in the costumes for the Van Nistelrooy team talk. “And when the players go to warming, I always see,” says Fatawu.
On the criticisms of fans to the team, he adds: 'They have the right to react. It is normal. We need to stay together because we are having bad times. I feel that Ruud is one of the best coaches. We need to do more to get more victories.
When he was a child, Fatawu observed the Premier League with his father, games with games projected in communal rooms and charging an entry rate. When he was 12 years old, he saw Leicester win the title and learned a new name, Jamie Vardy.
Only 12 years, Fatawu saw Leicester win the title and learned the name of Jamie Vardy
Regardless of the division in which Leicester is located, Fatawu is excited to be in the field again
'I used to support different teams. If one of them lost, I would change another, 'he laughs. 'I didn't know who Leicester City was before winning the title. We started listening to this name “Vardy” because he was the main man.
'It's a bit of sleep come true now to be in the same club. I told him that I am lucky that he did not retire and that he waited for him to come to play with him!
In the field it gives you the confidence to do what you want. It has a lot of energy. If we are playing together, I feel that I can definitely help you score.
Regardless of the division that Leicester is in the next season Fatawu will be excited to be in the field again.
“I don't think I play this season, but now I have no pain, I can make different movements with my leg and I will be ready from the first day of the preseason,” he promises.
Ideally, with his football father Van Nistelrooy still in charge.