Foxes of Leicester
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3 Leicester players Enzo Maresca cannot ignore vs Coventry

By Will Kennedy

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Manager Enzo Maresca of Leicester City ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Leicester City and OH Leuven at the Leicester City training Complex, Seagrave on July 19, 2023 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Plumb Images/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Manager Enzo Maresca of Leicester City ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Leicester City and OH Leuven at the Leicester City training Complex, Seagrave on July 19, 2023 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Plumb Images/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – JULY 30: Calum Scanlon #48 of Liverpool controls the ball against Wilfred Ndidi #25 of Leicester City during the second half of the pre-season friendly at the National Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Wilfred Ndidi

A huge turnaround in form and attitude has seen Wilfred Ndidi go from one of the players next tipped for an exit, to a key part of Maresca’s midfield engine. It’s no secret that the Nigerian has suffered a monumental drop-off in form over the last two years and has dipped well below his standards.

With Maresca comes a second chance at Leicester. The defensive-midfielder has impressed during pre-season in a new hybrid role, attacking up the pitch much more than he was before. He scored the sole goal in the last-minute friendly against Port FC and his physical presence will be much-needed in the Championship.

Still 26, Ndidi has amassed over 230 appearances for the Foxes since they signed him in 2017 from Belgian outfit, Genk. Now in the last 12 months of his deal, Leicester and Maresca clearly want him to stay, it’s up to Ndidi to prove why he deserves a new contract.

With Boubakary Soumare still debating his future at the club, and with Hamza Choudhury facing interest himself, it seems likely that Ndidi will start the Coventry game at the base of midfield, just behind Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and the impressive Harry Winks.

Capable of playing in defence, his versatility will be a real boost for the squad as they face a bruising and crammed football schedule. If this is to be Ndidi’s final season at the King Power, he needs to make sure he leaves a positive legacy, Sunday is the best way to start that.