Leicester City predicted line-up v Manchester United with three changes made
Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to name a full-strength Leicester City starting line-up in the FA Cup once again after describing the competition as a “privilege” to play in.
Van Nistelrooy made very few changes for the third-round victory over QPR, and that’s expected to be true at Manchester United on Friday night too. For QPR, the City boss was looking to rediscover the winning feeling after a run of defeats, but now he’s keen to show the FA Cup and a trip to Old Trafford the reverence they deserve, especially as his players will have a full week to recover before their next Premier League fixture.
Asked if the FA Cup was a distraction or if it was a welcome change to the schedule, he said: “It’s always welcome. We have time enough to recover. We have time enough to prepare the game. We’re going to do absolutely everything possible to be at our best.
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“It’s never a distraction. The FA Cup, to be represented in this cup is a privilege. We want to show what we’re about in a fantastic away game at Old Trafford. It’s more than welcome, these games. It’s a dream for every player to play there.”
But van Nistelrooy can still make changes from the 4-0 loss to Everton and name a full-strength line-up. For a start, Wilfred Ndidi could make his return from injury as a starter. While the Nigerian has not played for two months, he has had two good weeks of training and should be ready for inclusion in the 11.
Van Nistelrooy highly values Ndidi and it looks to be a battle between Harry Winks and Boubakary Soumare for the midfield spot alongside him. For now, it could be Soumare who stays in the team, van Nistelrooy deploying the midfield pairing from his first two games in charge.
The trip to Manchester United may also offer the right opportunity to give Woyo Coulibaly his first start for the club. The new right-back has made two substitute appearances, but may now be ready to be included in the 11.
As always, there are decisions to be made out wide. After two games out of the side, Stephy Mavididi could come back into the line-up in place of Bobby De Cordova-Reid on the left wing.
Van Nistelrooy has options at centre-back while he could give Jamie Vardy a rare evening off and name Patson Daka up front. But it seems more likely he will stick with his more regular starters.
The manager has confirmed that 15-year-old Jeremy Monga and 16-year-old Jake Evans will be on the bench and it does not feel like he will change his mind and name either in the starting line-up. If they are to make their debuts, it will be as a substitute.
Predicted City line-up (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Coulibaly, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Soumare; Ayew, El Khannouss, Mavididi; Vardy.
