Leicester City manager Steve Cooper is facing an unwelcome attacking conundrum for Monday’s Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium.
During their final match of pre-season – a 3-0 loss to Lens – Patson Daka suffered a severe ankle injury which required surgery, and the striker faces a few months on the sidelines.
Daka is one of two Leicester strikers in the medical bay, as the veteran Jamie Vardy has been plagued by a knock throughout the summer and is still a couple of weeks away from a comeback.
With Daka and Vardy sidelined, Tom Cannon is the only out-and-out striker in Cooper’s ranks, but the Foxes boss may instead side with ex-Arsenal youngster Stephy Mavididi in a central role.
Bobby Decordova-Reid and Abdul Fatawu will likely flank Mavididi in Leicester’s attacking trident, while former Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks should feature from the off against his old club.
Should Cooper opt for a more conservative shape, Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare may join the Englishman in the middle, but the injured Conor Coady (hamstring) will not be manning the defence.
Instead, Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes could act as Mads Hermansen‘s central shield, in between full-backs James Justin and Ricardo Pereira; Luke Thomas requires a late fitness test.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Winks, Ndidi, Soumare; Reid, Mavididi, Fatawu
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