Leicester City’s quick turnaround poses a dilemma for Enzo Maresco ahead of the game against Ipswich Town on Boxing Day.
So far this season, the City boss has opted to rotate his starting line-up as games have started to quickly line up. But will he do the same away to second-placed Ipswich, who are just over 72 hours away from their win over Rotherham?
The game at Portman Road is arguably one of the most important this season as City have the chance to climb nine points clear at the top of the standings. Depending on other results, City could also extend the gap to third place.
After City played with an unchanged line-up against the Millers, it would be normal to expect changes to be made in the next game. But the fact that Maresca was able to remove some key players in the last 20 minutes or so of the 3-0 win could have made the difference.
Wilfred Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Abdul Fatawu, Ricardo Pereira and James Justin were all withdrawn early before the trip to Ipswich. It therefore looks like they may all start at Portman Road.
Callum Doyle could return to the squad after returning to training this week. It is unlikely that he will be thrown straight back into the game after so much time away, which means Justin will once again take his place on the left side of defence.
One possible change could be to give Yunus Akgun a chance from the start. But Fatawu’s pace and directness could give him an advantage, especially as Leeds caused problems for Ipswich this weekend.
Patson Daka, who has started the last four games, made the most of his opportunity with both hands, scoring four goals, including two against Rotherham. But the fact that he played the full 90 minutes in search of his hat-trick may mean that Maresca will opt for the fresher legs of Kelechi Iheanacho, who is now waiting in the wings after returning from illness.
The impact of Daco since he came into the squad, as well as the number of games on the horizon and the importance of the game against Ipswich, gives the City manager a decision to make up front. It’s a difficult decision to make, but the City boss may decide that Iheanacho and Daka will share the role, while Jamie Vardy will remain on the sidelines to manage the minutes played by both.
XI vs Ipswich: Iheanacho: Ipsipps: Hermansen; Ricardo, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi; Fatawu, Mavididi; Iheanacho