Reasons Steve never played dynamite Leicester City

Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu have been on the pitch together for 30 minutes in the Premier League season, and it seems it’s a case of one or the other at the moment

They were Leicester City’s dynamite duo on the wings last season, contributing a combined 37 goals and assists in the Championship. But this term, the twin threat of Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu has been utilised for just half an hour in the Premier League.

Both of the wingers have played in each of City’s six league fixtures, but rarely together. They’ve not yet been named in the starting line-up, while they’ve only been on the pitch at the same twice, for 10 minutes against Tottenham on the opening weekend, and 20 minutes a week later at Fulham.

That’s been frustrating for sections of the fanbase who want to be dazzled by the duo as they were last season. In the first three Premier League games, Fatawu started but Mavididi came on as a sub, and the noise grew for the latter to be given his chance in the 11.

Their lack of game-time together is explained by Steve Cooper’s system. He wants to create a box of four centrally so that City are a threat through the middle of the pitch. The quartet forming the box are the two deep midfielders, the number 10, and then one of the wingers.

The winger taking on that role has to be comfortable shuffling inside and finding pockets in which to receive the ball and link play. Three players have so far played that position. First it was Bobby De Cordova-Reid, then Jordan Ayew, with Facundo Buonanotte handed the role against Arsenal.