How Leicester City could line up on the opening day as Marti Cifuentes faces big calls

Yahoo

30-07-2025

With a fortnight to go until the Championship season begins, Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes should be starting to generate an idea of how his opening-day line-up will look.
He's given 30 different players minutes over his three pre-season matches so far, but only 11 can step out at the King Power Stadium against Sheffield Wednesday.
There's been a few clues, but nothing definitive over who could make the line-up, and so the next two weeks of training, and the dress rehearsal against Fiorentina, will help him make up his mind.
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For now, here is the state of play at City in each position.
Goalkeeper
Mads Hermansen is City's number one but he's not played any minutes in pre-season following groin surgery, while there's potential for him to leave before the end of the transfer window.
It could leave a tricky decision. If Hermansen is able to prove his fitness over the next couple of weeks, does he start against Wednesday?
Or does Jakub Stolarczyk, as the man who has played in pre-season and who could be the number one in case of Hermansen's exit, get the nod? Right now, it seems like the Pole is the favourite.
Right-back
With Cifuentes' focus on control and dominating the ball, Ricardo Pereira's skillset feels like it's perfect. But a hamstring issue saw the Portuguese miss the friendlies last Friday.
If he recovers and plays against Fiorentina, it feels like the right-back role is his. Otherwise, it could go to Hamza Choudhury.
The academy graduate, who has worn the armband a couple of times in pre-season, has been used as a right-back who inverts into midfield by Cifuentes, rather than as a player who is stationed in the centre of the park.
It's also where he played and received positive reviews during his loan at Sheffield United last season.
Centre-back
There are five senior options for two spots and despite the Rangers interest, Conor Coady seems the most likely to be selected at the moment.
He's played consistently through pre-season, has been captain at times and seems to be well-liked by Cifuentes.
There's a wide range of options over who plays next to him. Jannik Vestergaard has the passing range that Cifuentes will love, but would there be enough pace at the back if the Dane partnered Coady?
Wout Faes has played very well in pre-season, but could be off this summer, while Caleb Okoli has the physical attributes but perhaps not the passing ability that Cifuentes wants.
Ben Nelson may provide the best of both words, but does have the least experience of the options. Albeit, he too has worn the armband this summer.
Left-back
Luke Thomas finished last season well and has looked confident on the ball in his couple of games under Cifuentes, moving into more advanced positions than he's usually seen in.
But James Justin has had a particularly promising pre-season, especially going forward, and has switched from the right to the left over the past couple of matches. He is the favourite for now.
Central midfield
While Harry Winks did not have the best of games against Koln, his ability to influence a game at the base of midfield will be well-liked by Cifuentes, as it was by Enzo Maresca two years ago. That perhaps puts him in front to start in midfield, but it remains an open battle.
Oliver Skipp, as the likeliest of the midfielders to remain at the club, could partner Winks, although there are questions as to whether the duo work together effectively, or if a different kind of midfielder is needed.
Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare are certainly that, but neither's future is sure. The Fiorentina friendly should reveal more.
Right wing
Once he's up to full speed, Abdul Fatawu is the obvious choice on the right. But he's yet to start a pre-season game as he's eased back following his ACL tear.
In that case, Kasey McAteer is the frontrunner to start on the right side. He gives City something different out wide and his off-the-ball work-rate has impressed Cifuentes.
Attacking midfield
Bilal El Khannouss is the standout option as the most creative player City have in central areas.
The questions are whether he will still be at the club come September and whether a player who is more likely to be present should start ahead of him. But equally, it may feel needlessly detrimental not to use El Khannouss while he's available to the club.
The alternatives are Louis Page, who has impressed in pre-season but lacks experience, the 17-year-old never having played a senior game, or Will Alves, who is perhaps ready after his loan at Cardiff, but has mostly played on the wing in the friendly matches.
Left wing
Jeremy Monga has been City's best player in pre-season. If Cifuentes is true to his word, he should be starting, even if he has only just turned 16.
But that's not to say Stephy Mavididi hasn't done well. In fact, he too has looked good in pre-season until a groin injury ruled him out of the most recent set of friendlies. Even if it's a minor injury, that could have tipped the balance in Monga's favour.
Of all the decisions Cifuentes has to make, this looks to be the most difficult.
Striker
If City don't have a new forward through the door in time for the start of the season, then it's a choice between Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka.
Both have now scored two in pre-season, but it's Ayew who looks to be the favourite. He's the better of the pair at receiving the ball to feet and bringing others into play.
But saying that, if El Khannouss starts, Daka's sprints in behind may be preferred. It's another tight battle
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