Leicester City
Leicester City predicted XI as Enzo Maresca faces potential decision
Leicester City head to Watford this weekend in flying form after demolishing Stoke City on the road last time out. Indeed the Foxes have been full of goals recently, sticking Swansea City and Birmingham City to the sword on home soil prior to that puncturing in the Potteries a week ago.
City have no need to let up; clear of the chasing trio Southampton, Leeds United and Ipswich Town, who would appear to be all set to battle it out for the remaining automatic promotion place in this run-in, Enzo Maresca knows that his players cannot rest on the currently attractive position that they boast.
Watford were well beaten by the Saints in the FA Cup replay in the week, while Leicester’s players had their feet up. Maresca speaks to the press on Friday afternoon ahead of the fixture, where he’ll be able to confirm whether or not Jannik Vestergaard is in a position to feature. Leicester, already without globetrotter Kelechi Iheanacho and injured Wilfred Ndidi, are otherwise looking healthy heading into this.
In the event Vestergaard doesn’t make it, however, Maresca will have a decision to make in the heart of the defence as to who partners Wout Faes in the middle. Harry Souttar is back involved after Australia’s Asian Cup campaign was brought to an end by South Korea in the quarter finals, while the experienced Conor Coady has also patiently waited for his turn since joining in the summer.
Then there is Ben Nelson. The teenager, who spent the second half of last season out on loan at Doncaster Rovers, would appear to have benefitted from that time away spent in the company of senior players and Maresca has been open minded about his inclusion this term. Nelson has enjoyed a promising 2024 to date.
In the FA Cup, he played 90 minutes in both the victories over Millwall and Blues and then, last week and with Vestergaard being forced off at half time, Maresca gave him the nod over Coady. Might that be a pointer to what to expect this Saturday, if Vestergaard doesn’t make it? Either way, Nelson is as close as he’s ever been to starting a Championship game for City.
