Leicester City predicted XI v Everton with five players competing for two places
A fit Mads Hermansen will come straight back into the Leicester City starting line-up at Everton with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s most difficult decisions again coming on the wings.
Hermansen is back in City training after more than a month out with a groin issue and van Nistelrooy has said, all being well, he will be available for selection at Goodison Park. In that case, he would start.
While Jakub Stolarczyk had his best game yet in the win over Tottenham, earning himself a place in the Premier League team of the week, there seems little chance the Pole will keep his place if Hermansen is ready to return. It may seem harsh to drop him, but Hermansen is still the clear number one.
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Where van Nistelrooy may have more trouble is out wide. With Bobby De Cordova-Reid receiving a surprise first start under the Dutchman at Spurs, and contributing two assists, there are now five feasible options for two places.
Jordan Ayew started on the right, with Facundo Buonanotte, Kasey McAteer and Stephy Mavididi all on the bench. All five have now been given chances, with performances at Seagrave a key factor.
“I look at the whole week, how well players are training,” van Nistelrooy said when asked how he decides his wingers. “Form in training is a big part of team selection.
“Of course the way we want to achieve our goals against a certain opponent, you’re going to look at the strengths and weaknesses of vital players in an opponent’s side, as well as ours. Those factors are part of the decision-making.”
Given the victory in North London, Ayew and De Cordova-Reid will be favourites to start again. Then the other three can compete to make a difference off the bench.
Van Nistelrooy was pleased with the defensive display at Tottenham too, and so the back four, and the midfield duo protecting them, are likely to remain in place. It means James Justin is set to continue at right-back, with Woyo Coulibaly again on the bench.
The goalscorers at Spurs, Bilal El Khannouss and Jamie Vardy, are certain to start if they are fit. Patson Daka, who has been linked to Everton, will be on the bench as Vardy’s deputy once again.
Predicted City XI (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumare; Ayew, El Khannouss, De Cordova-Reid; Vardy. Likely subs: Stolarczyk, Coulibaly, Coady, Okoli, Skipp, Buonanotte, McAteer, Mavididi, Daka.
