How Leicester City may set up as their first game after the international break sees them head to Swansea in search of a seventh consecutive Championship victory
How Leicester City may set up as their first game after the international break sees them head to Swansea in search of a seventh consecutive Championship victory
A refreshed squad with no new injury concerns leaves Enzo Maresca with plenty of players to choose from ahead of Leicester City’s trip to Swansea.
City head to Wales on Saturday afternoon looking for a seventh straight Championship win, and Maresca has a good number of options, with none of his internationals picking up knocks while away. For those who stayed at Seagrave, a fortnight’s break from match action will mean they are recharged and may mean they shave the selection battles with positional rivals.
That is most likely to be a consideration in attack, where Jamie Vardy may get the nod over Kelechi Iheanacho up front, while Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi – who were the focus of Maresca’s individual analysis during the international break – could start on the wings ahead of Yunus Akgun. Albeit, the Turk should have returned in a confident mood after his stunning goal helped his nation qualify for next summer’s Euros.
Yunus could be an option in midfield, where Maresca will have to pick an international player to join Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Wilfred Ndidi and Cesare Casadei were also away, with Nigeria and Italy Under-21s respectively, and they will be in the battle to start in Swansea, with Ndidi the favourite.
In defence, James Justin, who was rested in the final game before the international break, is expected to come back in at left-back, while Ricardo Pereira is very likely to start at right-back. It’s another choice between two internationals for the right of the two centre-back roles in Wout Faes and Harry Souttar, but it would be a surprise if the Belgian was overlooked.
Then Maresca has a choice between Jannik Vestergaard and Conor Coady for the other centre-back role. Both have had a fortnight training at Seagrave, but based on match form, Coady has not yet done enough to oust Vestergaard, and so the Dane may remain in the 11.