It’s Cup Semi Final Day !

Wakey Wakey… it’s Cup Semi Final day, and everyone in the Leicester Fan TV office is super excited !! Its been 20 years since we last went to Wembley for a Cup Final, in 2000 Matt Elliot lifted the League Cup, can Wes Morgan do it in 2020 ?

Our Chief Sports writer, Simon Mack brings you another fantastic fans match preview…

Leicester City vs Aston Villa

8^th January 2020 20:00

King Power Stadium

Leicester City issued a plea for all fans to be in their seats for 7:45pm at King Power Stadium as the foxes take on Aston Villa in the first leg of the Carabao Cup Semi Final.

It will be a second time that city fans have been treated to a pre match light show, the last time was on Boxing Day when the foxes went down 4-0 to relentless league leaders Liverpool.

Aston Villa visit King Power Stadium on the back of a 2-1 away defeat to Championship Fulham, and 2 league victories precede that against Burnley and Norwich respectively with a 3-0 defeat to Nigel Pearson’s Watford sandwiched between.

Thomas Heaton continues his absence from the villains squad with an ACL injury whilst Brazilian former Club Brugge striker Wesley Moraes remains side-lined with the same affliction. Keinan Davis is getting closer to full fitness as he recovers from thigh trouble and midfielder John McGinn still has no return date scheduled from his ankle fracture. Full back Matt Targett completes the injury list as the former Saints man attempts to recover from hamstring troubles.

It’s been 10 years since either of these side reached the final of the league cup so this semi-final affords the chance for both sides to visit Wembley and as the FA announce that VAR WILL BE IN USE during all 4 of the 2 legged semi-finals. The last time these 2 sides met Jamie Vardy bagged a brace as the foxes ran out 4-1 victors at Villa Park in the Premier League.

For the foxes fans good news was at hand during manager Brendan Rodger’s press conference as he announced that Jamie Vardy had trained and would re-join the match day squad for the this match. Debate has been wild amongst the city fans as to whether Rodgers would be better served to use Vardy as an impact sub rather than a starter, but given the chance of silverware and the home of the 2 legs coming first you’d think that Rodgers would want to be taking a lead to Villa Park for the 2^nd game and if the foxes leading scorer is passed fit it will be very tempting for Rodgers to throw him straight back in. Leicester have a few more injuries that we’ve been used to talking about so far this season and they include Wes Morgan who picked up a groin injury in the weekend’s cup win against Wigan and is expected to be out for a couple of weeks. Filip Benkovic was taken off as a precaution in the same game having felt some pain in his knee and Rodgers alluded to him having a couple of days rest and then resuming training but for this one he is out. Matty James now fit and is building up match fitness and Daniel Amartey almost a forgotten man at city has an ankle issue now that has delayed his full recovery despite Rodger’s stating  he has trained very well so far during his comeback.

Leicester City are hugely keen to place a trophy into the cabinet as a reward for their efforts during the 19/20 campaign and as a thank you from everyone to Khun Vichai. The Carabao Cup affords the most likely route to achieving their goal and despite the 2 Manchester giants battling it out for the other place at Wembley there is a great chance here for the foxes or villains to be heading for London on the 1^st March. Having rotated his starting eleven throughout the Christmas period and in the FA Cup 3^rd round tie at the weekend I believe we are likely to see a more familiar starting line up once again in this one and the boys firing on all and more familiar cylinders to ensure a lead is gained in readiness for the 2^nd leg.

Leicester possible line up:

Schmeichel, Ricardo, Soyuncu, Evans, Chilwell, Ndidi, Perez, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Vardy

Aston Villa possible line up:

Nyland, Konsa, Mings, Hause, Guilbert, Luiz, Nakamba, Taylor, Trezeguet, Kodjia, Grealish

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