In recent seasons, Leicester City have sustained more than their fair share of injuries. The side (including many of its starters) was decimated in previous campaigns. On occasion, back up players filled in; youths were promoted, potentially early, in order to fill gaps and develop.
However, this term City have not had to deal with anything like as many fitness problems. That was until now. If we count the exhiled Harry Winks (I'll have more on the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder later on in this piece), LCFC are said to currently have up to eight of their personnel unavailable when considering the Africa Cup of Nations too.
Unfortunately for the Foxes, most of these injured, unfit or omitted men actually start, star or are generally pretty crucial. That situation naturally impacts the lineup somewhat, or a lot. So here is what we previously designated Marti Cifuentes' best XI. Not to mention the side the manager will likely use whilst almost an entire team of athletes are absent.
Leicester City's finest starting lineup vs the best side while eight stars are unavailable
First of all, let's very briefly run through the latest Leicester absentees. Winks has seemingly fallen out with Cifuentes, yet the team seems to cope better without the 29-year-old at times.
Secondly, we have the Foxes injury list: Harry Souttar, Jeremy Monga, Victor Kristiansen, Boubakary Soumare, Aaron Ramsey and Caleb Okoli.
So let's assume Winks is not in the XI anymore even though he is one of the most adept professionals at City. Skipp has probably solidified his spot for now. Who else from that list is usually included? Monga was, but he lost his place. Luke Thomas kind of ousted Kristiansen.
Meanwhile Ramsey would start if fit. Soumare is a maybe. Okoli was regularly involved. While Patson Daka is off to the Afcon tournament. So the best side was roughly thus:
Stolarczyk; Thomas, Ben Nelson, Caleb Okoli, Ricardo; Winks, James; Mavididi, Ramsey, Fatawu; Daka.
Whereas this is the possible XI to face Bristol City:
"Stolarczyk; L. Thomas, Nelson, Vestergaard, Ricardo; Skipp, James; Mavididi, De Cordova-Reid, Fatawu; Ayew."Foxes of Leicester