Stoke v Leicester: Three things to look out for

The EFL Championship leaders face Stoke City tomorrow at the bet365 Stadium, with Stoke currently struggling in 19th place. The Foxes will aim to secure a win to maintain their top position, having recently notched up comfortable victories against Swansea City and Birmingham City. The Potters, on the other hand, will look to break their streak of consecutive defeats.

Leicester emerged victorious in the reverse fixture back in October, with Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho securing a 2-0 home victory.

Here are three key points to keep an eye on:

Return of 'Starboy' Abdul Fatawu to the Squad

Since Riyad Mahrez's departure for Manchester City, Leicester has grappled with finding a suitable player for the right-wing position. Numerous attempts have been made, but young Fatawu stands out as the real deal. Foxes fans finally have a right-winger to be excited about, and his decision to stay at Leicester over representing Ghana at the AFCON has further endeared him to supporters.

Unfortunately, he missed out on the last three games due to suspension following a controversial red card against Coventry City. Now that his suspension is lifted, he is back in contention to play against the Staffordshire side. Fans will be eager to witness him continue his impressive form, hoping he'll entertain and dazzle with his immense talent and high work rate.

Midfield Dilemma

Following the frustrating collapse of Stefano Sensi's transfer, Leicester finds itself short in the middle of the park. With Wilfred Ndidi expected to be out for at least two more months, the third midfield spot alongside fan favorites Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harry Winks remains up for grabs.

Dennis Praet and Yunus Akgun are likely contenders for the position. With both of their contracts ending this summer, a good run of games for either could secure their place in Enzo Maresca's plans for next season. Ricardo Pereira could also be deployed in midfield, given his footballing intelligence and the chances he's had there under Enzo.

Additionally, it would be refreshing to see youngsters Arjan Raikhy, Will Alves, and Sammy Braybrooke get opportunities in the first team. Raikhy, who made his league debut in the previous game against Swansea, will be hoping for more game time.

Striker Selection

With Tom Cannon, Patson Daka, and Jamie Vardy all fit, the battle for the sole striker spot is intense, especially with Iheanacho expected to rejoin the squad from AFCON within two weeks. All three have proven their worth, making it intriguing to see how Enzo manages their game time. 

Acknowledging the twilight of Leicester legend Vardy's illustrious career with a heavy heart, he is likely to feature more off the bench than in starting roles. Considering Iheanacho's contract is set to end in another six months, and uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, Enzo might opt to develop Cannon and Daka in preparation for the next season. Conversely, he may choose to keep the Nigeria international as the primary striker in a bid to convince him to commit his future to the club.