Leicester City's Adrien Silva would have to wait longer before he can play in January

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London, Dec 9: Leicester City fans may have to hold up their urge to see their new addition Portuguese midfielder Adrien Silva for a prolonged period after manager Claude Puel claimed that the midfielder has to be match fit and better than current midfield partner Iborra and Ndidi to be in the lineup.

The Foxes negotiated a deal on the transfer deadline day for the Portuguese midfielder as an alternative to their midfield star Danny Drinkwater who went to Chelsea.

The terms and condition agreed with both the players and club in the transfer deadline day in the Summer transfer window and the deal with Sporting was reported to be worth £22million for the 28-year-old. However, while registering the player in the Premier League in the dying moments of the deadline day Leicester allegedly requested an extension to complete the necessary paperwork.

But later football's governing body FIFA claimed that they did not receive the paperwork in time, claiming it was just 14 seconds late. which implied Silva was ineligible to play for Leicester until January 2018.

The player is currently working alone in the Leicester training camp for the last six months and is now in line for a return to the Foxes squad in January.

However, new manager Puel promptly has delivered a warning to the Portuguese midfielder as he claimed that after returning to the squad the midfielder will not be provided with an automatic start and after so many days without football, he first needs to gain match fitness before he can vie for a place in his initial group which could make his return delayed.

"It’s another problem," said Puel (via Leicester Mercury). Without any game time for six months, Silva may need more time to prepare himself for the Leicester starting eleven.

"Of course, we will be happy when he comes back in. For six months, he cannot play in games, so it is difficult. We will see his level and if he can help us quick or not."

Silva was a part of the Portugal team which won the European Championships in 2016 and even played his role in the final. The 28-year-old had come through the ranks of Sporting Lisbon academy and made more than 200 appearances for them where he was the captain of the team for the last two years.