Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca has a few of selection issues to consider ahead of the trip to Watford on Saturday.
Enzo Maresca will have to make a decision on Saturday afternoon when he leads Leicester to Watford, having confirmed the absence of routine centre half Jannik Vestergaard. The big Dane has a small hamstring injury that should be addressed during the Foxes’ King Power Stadium doubleheader next week.
Meanwhile, City will have to cope without him at Vicarage Road, and Maresca will need to find another partner for Wout Faes at the heart of defense – not that he is especially short on possibilities. Ben Nelson, a teenage defender who signed a new deal in December, replaced Vestergaard in Stoke’s 5-0 defeat last week and impressed. In recent months, he has gradually increased his minutes with the first squad.
On the other end of the career range, you have summer signing Conor Coady; many anticipated to see more of the former Wolves defender this season, but he has been forced to be patient while waiting for his chance. Even beyond those alternatives, Maresca still has the returning Harry Souttar to draw on, who returned to training this week following a successful Asian Cup campaign with his native Australia.
Maresca was impressed by Nelson’s agility as a defender asked to play a high line at Stoke, and, despite admiring Coady’s off-field personality on the training pitch and in the dressing room, Nelson appears to be on track for his first City league start.
“Conor plays an important role for this club and team,” Maresca reasoned. “Unfortunately, he is not engaged in every game. First and foremost, he was injured and out of commission for several months. When he returned, Jannick was playing really well. Because of the way we play with the high press, you may have to defend from 40 or 50 metres behind.
“Because we already have defenders who aren’t quick – Callum, Jannick, and Conor – we need to establish a balance with guys who can defend from behind. Ben Nelson played the other day, and this was why. We were playing on the opposing side and had to defend from 50 meters behind. That’s something Ben can do.
“The reason we are where we are right now is because Conor, Jamie [Vardy], and [Danny] Wardy have been training hard every day, and they are playing a significant role – even if they don’t realize it since they aren’t playing. For the players, the most essential thing is to get minutes, and this is my opinion of Conor. I understand how difficult it is for them since they want to play every game.
It was also suggested to Maresca, whose options and depth extend beyond his centre half selections, that he would soon be able to call in all four of his senior centre forwards at the same time, assuming all goes well. Kelechi Iheanacho will play in the AFCON final against Nigeria this weekend before returning to Seagrave, while illnesses and international calls have kept Maresca from having a full armament until soon – although they will not all be participating at the same time.
“It’s probably going to be the first time, when Kele comes back,” she said. “When they’re all available, some of them will undoubtedly be out of the squad. One striker is playing; three strikers on the bench is too many. It is what it is, and maybe we will have all of them fit so that I can make a decision, but the thought of playing with one striker and three on the bench is too much.”
