QPR v Leicester: These Foxes Must Start

The King Power side need to start getting some results in. 34 games played, 78 points gained, six points clear at the summit of the EFL Championship. Yet, only two league games ago the triumphant march had forged a 12 points gap. Further slip ups take guaranteed promotion into a more dicey and frantic finish.

Either way, up next, Maresca’s men will have to face relegation to mid-table challengers QPR. A side with a negative 13 goal difference to our positive 41. The gulf could nearly be greater. So, all the more reason to go at the match with little hesitation: it needs to be a win, it needs to be a belter to rebuild that momentum.

Leicester City must start Revived Graduate

A season in the shadows, one with Watford, and a contract on its edge. Hamza Choudhury looked to be down and out of Leicester, and yet here the player stands with a new deal, and remaining a fan favourite whenever the academy graduate steps onto the pitch. The midfielder has been revived by Maresca - nor is he the only player.

Against Bournemouth in the Emirates FA Cup, we saw a hungry and passionate player. A player who could grasp the need to never be complacent when defending: throwing himself into well-judged challenges, and having become more mature in deciding when to stick a foot in. On top of that, against Leeds United, we saw Choudhury work excellently with Ricardo Pereira to close down strong threats while also giving ‘Ricky P’ the freedom to play box-to-box.

The Englishman is not our most progressive player, not our best passer, not our best defender, and nor is Choudhury our best goal threat. He does not need to be any of those things: he is a passionate voice, a tempo setter, and a tireless worker to close down and eliminate chances on our goal. Enzo Maresca must start Hamza Choudhury.