Leicester v Hull: Predicted Foxes XI

Who plays in the midfield three is more difficult to predict, irrespective of the transfer uncertainty. Enzo Maresca was clearly unhappy at the performance of some of the players he substituted at half time in the midweek League Cup tie on the Wirral. He didn’t name names but one player who he might have been referring to is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who has struggled a little of late. Starting Cesare Casadei for the first time must be tempting. Ndidi’s increasingly effective performances as a box-to-box number eight makes him a shoe-in. So my midfield three would be Harry Winks, Casadei and Ndidi.

Two of the front three will clearly be Iheanacho and Stephy Mavididi. It is less clear who will occupy the right-sided attacking position. Kasey McAteer did well last week against Rotherham and probably deserves to keep his place. He is being challenged now, though, by new signing Yunis Akgun. I would go with McAteer with Akgun to come on later in the game.

Imagine, though, if Iheanacho, Ndidi and Faes depart on transfer deadline day. What then? Such an outcome would present huge problems for Maresca (and for that reason I don’t think it will happen. Let’s assume, though, that the nightmare scenario unfolds.