Vicente Iborra faces former rivals Valencia

On Wednesday night Leicester City play their solitary friendly at the King Power Stadium against Spanish side Valencia. For Vicente Iborra it is an opportunity to stake his claim in the starting line-up and compete against countrymen and former rivals.

Leicester City’s Vicente Iborra is a classy and sophisticated central midfielder. However, he is not assured of a starting place under Claude Puel. With an abundance of similarly skilled midfield craftsmen, the Frenchman has a partial dilemma: who to include and how many players do we need in the middle?

Are three or two required in the centre? And are those positions occupied by: Wilfred Ndidi, Iborra, Adrien Silva, Nampalys Mendy or James Maddison albeit more advanced? Even possibly Hamza Choudhury or Matty James; if and when he returns.

Well, Claude Puel made two comments on the subject recently. Per BBC Sport, we learn that the Foxes boss expects to sell some of the mediocre, fringe, supporting cast: “We have had some discussions with John [Rudkin] and the owners and the players. We will see what will happen before the end of the transfer window.”

Puel also made a statement on his likely starting team against Valencia, as reported by Leicester Mercury:

"“I hope now for the next game we can put out a team with more experience and more maturity. It will be all the starting players of course because we will have more opportunity to give more game time to the international players.” – Claude Puel"

One man I fully expect to begin the penultimate warm-up match, is the Spaniard. Iborra was once a Levante player, their City foes are the Oranges. The Frogs, as they are known in English – were founded ten-years before rivals Valencia. Though in modern times the latter is more successful. Iborra spent his youth in the Levante academy and six-years as a professional there.

30-year-old Iborra will understandably savour a chance to meet with and beat his former teammates: “Playing there is very special for me because I played for the other team of the city – I liked to play in that derby.” Speculation concerned Valencia’s interest in recapturing Iborra about a month ago. But it looks as though he will remain a Fox in 2018.

Wednesday’s game against the Bats will be a strong examination of the Leicester City squad – still without some World Cup stars – as the Bats qualified for the Champions League, after recent frustrations. The Foxes have accomplished a draw, loss and win so far in preseason. A final friendly versus Lille away in Northern France is on Saturday.

Portuguese pair Ricardo and Silva tested their knowledge of Valencia on Leicester’s social media platforms.

Will it be Danny Ward in-goal at the King Power or will Kasper Schmeichel make a return?

Only goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell knows which player is starting in net.

Wes Morgan says Valencia are the ‘glamour fixture’ ahead of the premiership season.

Foxes fans can view the game for free at lcfc.com.

Predicted XI

Regardless of many substitutions these days in friendlies – Puel used almost the entire squad against Udinese – the beginning side will be telling. This is because it is only nine days until the Premier League opener against Manchester United. Below is the team I would ideally start – without the still vacationing Harry Maguire and Jamie Vardy or injured Jonny Evans.

Schmeichel; Ricardo, Amartey, Morgan, Chilwell; Silva, Iborra, Ndidi; Gray, Maddison; Iheanacho. This is an improvised 4-3-3 as Leicester City lack centre-backs for my preferred 3-4-3.

Would you risk any players coming back from an extensive break from the start?