HARRY WINKS was axed from the Leicester City squad after reportedly getting into a blazing row with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Winks, 29, found himself dumped out of the matchday team for the Foxes’ 2-0 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday night.
And now The Telegraph report it came after getting into a “heated” argument with the manager.
Van Nistelrooy allegedly requested Winks compromised on his 100-mile daily commute to the club’s state-of-the-art £100million training ground.
He wanted the former Tottenham man to stay overnight at the on-site hotel accommodation once a week at Seagrave in North Leicestershire – which also boasts a nine-hole golf course.
However, it is understood Winks refused the suggestion and has private reasons for commuting from Hertfordshire every day, which he has done since joining the club for £10m under Enzo Maresca last season.
The ten-cap England international did welcome a baby daughter with partner Lowri Algar in mid-March.
It is the latest off-field issue surrounding Leicester who looked destined for an immediate relegation back to the Championship.
Earlier in the season, Winks was among a group of Foxes players who partied in Copenhagen while holding a sign reading “Enzo I miss u” following a defeat to ex-manager Maresca’s Chelsea.
Then last month, The Telegraph revealed how the atmosphere under Van Nistelrooy has been toxic throughout his tenure at the King Power Stadium.
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Jannik Vestergaard, who fell out with previous managers Brendan Rodgers and Steve Cooper, allegedly shocked members of staff by bringing his dog to training when there was no one at his London home to look after it.
Like Winks, it is understood Vestegaard is one of the three senior Leicester players who travels more than 90 miles per day to training.
There were various other issues including bust-ups between players and coaches.
Winks was a key figure for Maresca in the Championship last season but has played a bit-part role in recent weeks, not starting in the Premier League since a 4-0 defeat at Everton on February 1.
Vestergaard, meanwhile, has been exiled from the last three of Van Nistelrooy’s matchday squads – the defeats to Chelsea, Manchester United and City.
Before he booted Winks for the Etihad game, the ex-Red Devils striker told how he is demanding high standards from his squad – despite the horrendous run that has seen 14 defeats from 15 matches and seven games without a goal.
Van Nistelrooy said: “One of the first things I looked at when I arrived was to see how things are done here, and then apply my standards in this environment.
“In general, I’ve tried to increase the standards over the past three months.
“You have to take full advantage of these facilities. That is where the standards come in.
“It’s a perfect place to increase the standards as high as I feel is possible to run a club that wants to be in the Premier League.
“People have to get used to it. In the short term, you won’t see the effects of it, but in the long term it will pay off.”
SunSport has contacted Leicester City for comment.
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