Leicester player reviews: Get Carter’s 20/21 – Soyuncu, Turkish Delight?

These injuries could well be what contributed to form that seemed to stagnate. But the issues that Soyuncu has had this season are not necessarily all due to injury problems. His tendency to be cute with Cruyff-turns along the back cost him dearly at home to Newcastle (more on that match later), as was his ability to try and get himself out of problems of his own making with an erratic style of aggressive defending that bizarrely heralded very few tackles won (incidentally he’s lower than James Maddison for Premier League tackles this season).

Turkey’s stalwart’s ability on crosses for such a physical presence needs more work, as too often he is rooted to the spot when marking attackers. costing Leicester City in three of those opening four games against Burnley, Manchester City, and most tellingly West Ham United.

His attitude is normally spot on apart from a dreadful display of defending against Newcastle at The King Power – watch him trotting back gently as Callum Wilson fired Newcastle further ahead (rarely has a performance annoyed so many Leicester City fans). His almost hilarious guard of honour for Gareth Bale in the closing minutes of the season against Spurs was possibly even more alarming.

Positional sense needs much work, and that is to be expected with the number of times Brendan Rodgers has switched between different backline styles. But Rodgers is showing no signs of changing this methodology and this will be something Soyuncu will quickly need to get up to speed on.