FanSided World Football
·5 November 2024
FanSided World Football
·5 November 2024
10 games played, 10 points gained, 15th in the Premier League and only barely above the relegation spots. The King Power side needs a fully fit squad to give them an opportunity for flexibility in team selection and system. However, we saw from the Ipswich Town fixture that Steve Cooper does not like to adapt his system regardless of the opposition.
Nevertheless, the Foxes have had several players out injured at different points in this early part of the season, and Cooper will be happy to have most of his players back available for selection. Again, whether or not they are used, and bearing in mind Leicester might dip into the January transfer market in a couple of months.
After the return of Jannik Vestergaard against Ipswich, a couple of other players have returned to training, and so have a chance to feature against Manchester United - likely from the bench if at all. The striker Patson Daka has been absent for months with an injury to his foot keeping him off the pitch until now. The player has been in training again, so should be available for the upcoming tie.
Hamza Choudhury had an issue with his shoulder which could have required LCFC to get the player surgery. They decided to allow the issue to heal naturally. Supposedly, the player is again back in contention after being in training. Choudhury has often been a defensive sub used occasionally in matches where we were winning or drawing at the time.
Jakub Stolarczyk unfortunately remains unavailable. The Polish goalkeeper was great last campaign when given the chance to perform, and we have had to rely on Daniel Iversen as a third choice, Danny Ward as our cup 'keeper, and Mads Hermansen as our Premier League first choice with no competition as a result. The player is unlikely to make a swift return, although Cooper has stated he is not far off.
Hopefully, the King Power side will have both Choudhury and Daka on the bench against Manchester United. The pair deserve their chance to get back into the side, and that is best done in a match the Foxes are probably going to get smashed within again. The Zambian forward would be a much-welcome starter for me, to give Jamie Vardy a rest and hopefully compete a little with the English legend.