Norwich vs Leicester: predicted Foxes starting XI
By Will Kennedy
Following their 4-1 thumping of Southampton on Friday, Leicester City face a tough task as they visit high-flying Norwich City on Wednesday. It’s the first mid-week Championship game of the season, something the Foxes will have to grow used to if they are to secure promotion back to the Premier League.
Finally seeing his attack blossom against a sorry Saints’ side, Enzo Maresca now faces a tough call: does he keep the same side that tore Southampton apart, or does he utilise the squad depth at his disposal and rotate heavily.
One thing that won’t be in question is which formation he will select. Unlike under Brendan Rodgers, Maresca has a set ideology of how he wants his team to line-up come kick-off. He will select his accustomed 4-3-3 that can change to a 3-5-2 throughout the game.
With the tough run of fixtures coming up – they host former boss, Nigel Pearson’s Bristol City before the thankless task of visiting Anfield in the Carabao Cup followed by another away day to Blackburn Rovers – I predict that Maresca will make several changes without disrupting the flow of the team.
Goalkeeper and defence
It’s a difficult call whether to start the impressive Jakub Stolarczyk – the young ‘keeper has kept clean sheets in all three games he has started – but I think Maresca will keep Mads Hermansen between the sticks. The Danish stopper has proven to an outstanding signing by the club so far and disrupting his form would be a mistake.
Having started his first league game of the season, I would keep James Justin at right back on Wednesday. Justin is still rediscovering his ability since his injury, and successive starts would only help that progress. At left-back I would pick Callum Doyle. The Manchester City-loanee made a dreadful mistake on Friday which resulted in Samuel Edozie’s goal, the one dampener on a fantastic evening.