Leicester vs Southampton: Predicted Foxes XI

After a morale-boosting, albeit somewhat fortunate, 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, the Foxes take the field against Southampton on Tuesday night knowing that two victories out of the remaining three games will ensure automatic promotion and winning all three will bring the Championship title to the King Power Stadium.

Given what we know about Enzo Maresca’s team selections so far, I don’t expect, barring injuries, many, if any, changes from Saturday’s line-up. It is in defence where there could be some adjustments. The introduction of Conor Coady at the weekend was welcome. Whether he starts again on Tuesday night is anyone’s guess, although given the win, the former Everton and Wolves defenders’ competent performance and his leadership skills, it will be difficult to leave him out.

What I liked about playing three centre backs against West Brom was the tendency, particularly when Leicester were not in possession, for either Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes or Coady to drift further up-field to press the opposition. If Coady doesn’t play, James Justin is likely to return at left back. It would be a brave man to leave Hamza Choudhury out after his heroics on Saturday, but Ricardo Pereira is first choice for the inverted right back slot and does improve the team, particularly going forward.

In midfield, the tried and trusted threesome of Wilfred Ndidi, Harry Winks and Kiernan-Dewsbury Hall is likely to start again. Likewise, despite the return of Kasey McAteer after injury, it is clear that, providing they are fit, the LCFC boss will start with his favourites Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu out wide. 

The striker position is interesting. It is unlikely that Jamie Vardy will start his second match in four days. Since the turn of the year, the alternative has been Patson Daka but the Zambian international has had a well-publicised difficult time of late and Maresca may be tempted to choose either Kelechi Iheanacho or Tom Cannon instead. If we have learnt anything about the Foxes boss, however, it is that he isn’t unduly influenced by the noises around the club and, given Daka replaced Vardy late on against West Brom, it is probable he will start on Tuesday evening.

Therefore, my predicted Foxes XI is:

Mads Hermensen

Ricardo Pereira

Jannik Vestergaard

Conor Coady

Wout Faes

Harry Winks

Wilfred Ndidi

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Abdul Fatawu

Patson Daka

Stephy Mavididi

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