Leicester vs Burton: will Foxes starting XI feature new signings?
Across the back, of which I think the Foxes will play a four; I think Luke Thomas starts as the left-back, Jonny Evans and Daniel Amartey play as the centre-backs, with either Vontae Daley-Campbell or Ricardo Pereira as the right-back. The majority of this selection is self-explanatory — the other options at centre-back (Wesley Fofana or Caglar Söyüncü) are both requiring rests — either because of injury for the former or competing in an international tournament for the latter.
In my opinion, Luke Thomas will get the nod at left-back as Brendan Rodgers is working on securing a full-back in the summer transfer window — most prominently Ryan Bertrand. Getting some minutes in Thomas’ tank will be key for the start of the season, because Rodgers has the dilemma of either selecting the 20-year-old or gambling on the new arrival.
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On the right-side, Pereira was still reaching 100 per cent match sharpness at the end of the 2020/21 Premier League season, and ensuring he’s fully-fit for the upcoming campaign will feel like a new signing for the Foxes. However, these initial XI’s in pre-season tend to throw up some interesting selections and I think Daley-Campbell would be deserving of a start as well — especially in a low pressure environment.
Into midfield, and I expect Rodgers will play a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3. At the base of midfield, I’ve gone for a pivot of Nampalys Mendy and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. This composition makes a lot of sense, and also gives Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans some additional — and deserved — rest. By playing the Frenchman you have a defensive-midfielder that is safe and assured in possession, freeing up Dewsbury-Hall to play a “Tielemans-esque” role of dictating the tempo and style of play. I anticipate he’ll be a key figure during the pre-season games. I’ve opted against Boubakary Soumaré (who could’ve replaced Mendy) as his verticality in possession overlaps the role of KDH, and I’d suggest it’s either/or between the two players.