Leicester’s improved starting XI with ideal signings and returning stars

Furthermore, the Danish left-back offers something different: a promising talent, tall and progressive, while still providing plenty of defensive instinct. This is the area our academy graduate most lacks: the positional instinct and composure to decide the right action/inaction. So, only Kristiansen can start.

In the centre, Wout Faes and the – hopefully – to be signed Harry Souttar would be our primary pairing. Their legs are not made of brittle spaghetti, and both offer different styles of defending. One is more progressive, aggressive, and comes out of the shape to make disruptive actions, whereas the other is more composed, making blocks and clearances at key times.

Souttar would also sure up the aerial side of defending and attacking. During corners and free kicks, having a more aerially astute player will help us concede less and score more. Alongside Faes and a more confident Ward, this should be the basis for a strong defensive output from free kicks.

On its right, the soon to return Ricardo Pereira is a no-brainier. Timothy Castagne is great, and can also compete for positions on the left, just as ‘Ricky P’ can compete for a place at right-wing. Versatile and strong, the Portuguese fullback was once considered the best right-back outside the top six squads.

What Pereira brings is competence, quality, aggression, experience, and a sheer passion to rush forward and to get back. There are hardly any players like him, and so including such a progressive and impressive talent back into the starting XI is an unquestionably great decision. The only caveat will be consistent rotation with the Belgian right-back to avoid overplaying and risking injuries.