Leicester: Can Danny Ward challenge Kasper Schmeichel’s supremacy?

Leicester City’s backup goalkeeper Danny Ward has performed heroically for Wales in Euros 2020, but can he one day take the No.1 shirt from Schmeichel?

Wales have had a brilliant Euros 2020 campaign, finishing second in group A, where they might realistically have been expected to finish last. Their competitors were Switzerland, Italy, and Turkey, all of which have notable talent.

This startling performance is in no small part thanks to the tactics of Rob Page and the heroics of Danny Ward between the sticks. In fact, Danny Ward was perhaps so important to Wales’ success, that he might be playing himself into contention at Leicester.

Leicester City must give Ward playing time

As WalesOnline reported, Danny Ward knows that at Leicester, he is the backup goalkeeper for the eminent Kasper Schmeichel. He knows that ‘the Great Dane’ is simply put an exceptionally good player and ‘undroppable’ for Brendan Rodgers.

Yet still, Ward can remain patient and fight his way into contention at King Power. He is doing that with his playtime with Wales.

According to FootyStats, the Foxes’ ‘Danny Boy’ has faced an xGA (expected goals against) of 1.26 per match. This means the opposition were expected to score at least one, and on another day would score up to two.

Ward made three saves against Switzerland in their 1-1 draw, five against Turkey in their 0-2 clean sheet, and five against Italy in their 1-0 defeat.

By only conceding two goals in total, Ward has prevented 1.78 in xGA from being converted to a goal. xG does not make his performance sound impressive, so let’s compare that to our No.1 – Schmeichel.

Leicester City faced about 1.24 in xGA per match over the course of the 38 Premier League fixtures. They conceded 1.32 in total per match. The defensive underperformance is mostly the result of injuries and very lucky goals, especially in the final match of the season against Tottenham Hotspurs.

So, Brendan Rodgers’ side have a big choice to make going forward: is Danny Ward ready to get more game time, and perhaps fight his way into a competition with Kasper Schmeichel?

My answer is yes. Ward was given a new Foxes contract prior to the conclusion of the 20/21 season, and has proven himself during this Euros 2020 campaign. Next season, expect to see him get more game time in the cups.

Ward will now be given the chance at club level to prove himself worthy of taking Schmeichel’s place when the time eventually comes. It is up to him to put in those performances consistently.