PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Riyad Mahrez – Will the PFA help him get back to training

Southampton's Ryan Bertrand (left) and Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez battle for the ball during the Premier League match at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday December 13, 2017. See PA story SOCCER Southampton. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Thursday Feb 08, 2018. 19:00

With Algeria and Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez’s off the field issues dragging on, the Professional Footballers' Association has offered to mediate.

The PFA is set to mediate between the player and City following the winger's continued absence from training at King Power Stadium.

Media reports in England suggest that the PFA offered assistance last week, but Mahrez and the club are yet to take up the offer from the players' union.

Mahrez was set to join Manchester City last month, but the 2015/16 English Premier League champions failed to agree with the log leaders.

CHAN RUNNERS-UP NIGERIA TO RECEIVE 400,000 AND NOT $750,000

Subsequent to that failed move, Mahrez is yet to report for training and manager Claude Puel said the situation surrounding Mahrez is not uppermost in his thoughts.

"Riyad is not my preoccupation," Puel said. "My preoccupation is about my available players and to keep them in a positive attitude and to continue this good work."

However, ex-England striker Ian Wright condemned Mahrez's antics but admitted he is stunned the Foxes failed to cash in on the winger, who reportedly cost the club £350,000 when he signed from Le Havre in 2014.

"It's very unprofessional the way he (Mahrez) is dealing with it," Wright said on Sky Sports.

"It's blatantly obvious for everyone to see. You can't just down tools because you don't get what you want.

"I still can't understand why Leicester, who bought him for £400,000, wouldn't want to cash in on that asset who does not now want to play for the club."

Leicester play City on Saturday and it remains unclear whether Mahrez will feature against Pep Guardiola's league leaders.