Danny Simpson is fit but Claude Puel has said he will make a late decision if he will make it. Wes Morgan is out but Puel has said Robert Huth is very close to returning. Ben Chilwell returns from suspension. So here is what I would go with Schmeichel Amartey Maguire Dragovic Chilwell Mahrez Iborra Ndidi Albrighton Gray Vardy Subs- Hamer, Benalouane, Fuchs, James, Silva, Okazaki, Iheanacho
Not bad ... but if Matty James is fit I have a feeling he might get the nod ahead of Albrighton ... have to say he has looked pretty good since he returned from injury
If Silva isn’t ready to start this. Would prefer Knight or Hughes instead of Benny on the bench but won’t happen
When James plays, he often looks crap but we often do well - I think he may be positionally excellent. Also, we seem to look so much more composed with Dragovic at the back. He’s small but also positionally excellent. Albrighton is also just outstanding at the moment. Kasper Amartey Dragovic Maguire Chilwell Mahrez James N’didi Albrighton Okazaki Vardy
I fully understand your point and agree James doesnt deserve to be dropped but I think he needs to be managed with his injury record. We have no reason to over push him with games Cant drop Albrighton. One of the first names on the team sheet for me
Today's starting XI ⬇️ Schmeichel (c), Amartey, Dragović, Maguire, Chilwell, James, Ndidi, Albrighton, Mahrez, Okazaki, Vardy. Subs: Hamer, Fuchs, Benalouane, Gray, Silva, Iheanacho, Diabaté. #LeiWat https://t.co/BJnDiNOY28
Great result. Even better given the fact Burnley lost so up to 7th, Watford in 10 naturally lost as we know and Everton could only draw. A real gap opened up now. Now hoping Man City win the league cup and if it can’t be us who win the FA cup, the next best thing would be a top 4 team win it against another of them so that 7th gets into Europa if we can consolidate and keep hold of it!
Burnley heading backwards fast after a good start, like Watford tbf. What was the point in bringing Barnes back from loan? surely with Gray, Diabaté and Thomas we didn't need him back.
Isnt he training with the first team? Better experience for him with our calibre of players and coaches rather than Barnsleys.
It's still possible he'll go back out on loan to a better Championship club before the end of the window though. Do think regular football would be better for his development than our U23's and the occasional cup game.
He can’t only play for 2 teams in a season so he won’t go back on loan now. It’ll be whatever involvement he has with us
Of course, doh! He played in the Fleetwood game for us. Can't believe I'd forgotten that thrilling encounter already!
Yep. The mrs and in-laws weren’t too impressed I made them sit through that! I hope he plays more of a role for us as if he loses out on another half a season on loan for his development for that game that he hardly was able to get involved in it’ll be a shame. I thought he was more a number 10 than a winger anyway so maybe that’s why he didn’t have a good game
Thats what strikes me as odd, we only really have Okazaki as a number 10 at the moment that puts a shift in, unless Silva comes good in behind Vards, thought Barnes would have been good to try there, even in the return leg.