CITY GO MARCHING ON TO SAINTS – by Simon Mack

Southampton vs Leicester City

Friday 25^th October 2019 20:00

St Mary’s Stadium

After an emotional victory against Burnley at King Power Stadium last weekend the foxes can go back into 2^nd spot in the Premier League again on Friday night with a victory against struggling Southampton.

The saints lie 4^th from bottom in the table after 9 games and count victories on the road at Brighton and Sheffield Utd as their only wins so far this term.

Southampton only sit clear of the relegation zone on goal difference alone and have failed to win at home in the league at all this season to date. On a more positive note for the saints striker Danny Ings has been in fine form of late with 5 goals in his last 4 appearances, and the foxes are yet to be victorious in a Premier League tie played on a Friday night.

With 3 defeats and a draw in the last 4 Southampton will be looking to get some points on the board before difficult dates with Manchester City and Arsenal loom, but Leicester sit 3^rd currently and their hugely talented side will provide a stern challenge as this live for TV south coast fixture ensues.

The saints have Cedric Soares (calf) and Moussa Djenepo (thigh) both out at least until next month but apart from this are injury free and it’s more tactics and selection that will be on manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s mind Ii his weekend’s early match up preparations.

Shane Long, Sofiane Boufal and Che Adams all started the last match away to Wolves on the bench and it will be interesting to discover how the saint’s Austrian gaffer deploys his men in a clash he’ll be desperate to obtain something from.

For the foxes it’s been James Maddison’s condition that has been on the lips of all the journalists who got the chance to speak to city boss Brendan Rodgers in his pre match press conference.

The foxes boss spoke to the media before he and his side headed south and the Northern Irishman confirmed not only would Maddison travel but that he was available and fit for selection also. Rodger’s alluded to Maddison’s lack of training in the wake of his ankle injury and virus meaning he wasn’t fully match fit for last week’s game. But having trained without issue all week he’s raring to go for Friday night.

The remainder of the city squad is fully fit, and Rodgers fielded questions not only on Maddison’s fitness but his future also. The city gaffer closed all of these down in the ‘irrelevant right now’ and ‘not my concern’ manner you’d expect, and wouldn’t be drawn on what lies ahead in January.

With a squad fit and available Rodgers preparation for the trip south will have been focussed on how once again to deploy his talented squad to best effect down south. Last time out it was Youri Tielemans who shone the brightest of all of his stars and seems certain to start. Captain Schmeichel is a certainty between the posts too, and the defensive pairing of Evans and Suynchu have done admirably this term after the departure of Harry Maguire.

Whether or not both Wilfred Ndidi and Hamza Choudhury get starts will depend on Rodgers assessment of the saints attacking midfield threat, and with Ben Chilwell still struggling for form young James Justin’s chances of a start might be improving.

If Rodgers opts for width in this one it will be interesting to see if that includes Ayonze Perez. The Spaniard has failed to light the fires of desire inside the foxes faithful since his £30 million switch from Newcastle in the summer, and with a high quality 30 minute cameo from Demari Gray last time out the berth wide right must be under some scrutiny. Harvey Barnes has cemented his place wide left lately and if the foxes do opt for a flat 4 in front of Ndidi his superb skill and pinpoint cross for Vardy’s goal last time out should see him get the nod despite so many of the fans clamouring for a Marc Albrighton master class along the flank.

Belgian international Dennis Praet started the match against Burley from the bench having returned late from international duty but I for one can see him returning to the 1^st eleven this time around with Perez the likely casualty from the 11 that started against the clarets.

The pundits and the bookies all have the foxes down as likely victors as the weekly 9-5 grind draws to a close. And for city fans looking forward to a break from the work routine a foxes win would set the tone to a perfect weekend away from the humdrum.

Southampton potential line-up: Gunn, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Valery, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Ings

Leicester City potential line-up: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell, Ndidi, Praet, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy

Simon’s score prediction: 2-1 to the foxes with Jamie Vardy scoring the first goal.