Fatawu Gets the Nod as Leicester Shuffle Midfield for Forest Clash
Leicester City are bracing for their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest, and the buzz is all about the shake-up in midfield. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo, looking for more firepower, is expected to hand a start to Abdul Fatawu, pushing Bilal El Khannouss down the pecking order for this fixture. Fatawu’s inclusion adds a dose of dynamism, as he’s known for taking on defenders and injecting pace where Leicester sometimes lacks it.
The rest of the midfield structure looks robust and practical. Wilfred Ndidi brings steel and composure, patrolling the space in front of the defense, while Harry Winks adds a metronomic quality with his accurate passing and calm head. This trio is expected to work as the engine room, with Fatawu bringing extra flair and directness on the flanks.
Stable Defense and Attacking Setup
If you’re hoping for surprises in Leicester’s backline, think again. James Justin, Wout Faes, Caleb Okoli, and Victor Kristiansen are all set to start in defense, defending the goal guarded by Mads Hermansen. This consistency should help Leicester maintain organizational discipline, crucial for keeping a resilient Forest attack at bay.
In the attacking third, Jamie Vardy’s experience leads the line. The veteran continues to be Leicester’s reference point up front, even as the years go by. His speed may not be what it once was, but his instincts and work rate still set him apart in crucial moments. On either side of him, Federico Buonanotte and André Ayew are expected to start, giving the Foxes versatility—Ayew provides physical presence, while Buonanotte brings trickery and creative spark.
Leicester are still without Patson Daka, who faces a spell on the sidelines, missing that burst of pace and direct threat. Hamza Choudhury is also absent, recovering from a shoulder dislocation. Those injuries mean squad depth will be tested, especially if the game opens up late on.
The predicted Leicester City XI, then, lines up with Hermansen in goal, the familiar back four of Justin, Faes, Okoli, and Kristiansen, a midfield trio of Ndidi, Winks, and Fatawu, and an attacking unit featuring Vardy, Beunanotte, and Ayew. It’s a setup with balance, but all eyes will be on how Fatawu fits into the system and whether he can be that difference-maker as Leicester chase points against their East Midlands rivals.
