Leicester City’s vulnerability on the right flank has sparked concerns among fans, yet manager Steve Cooper remains steadfast in his support of his team, opting not to single out individual players for blame.
The recent pattern of conceding from this side of the pitch has become a topic of intense discussion, with regular right-back James Justin drawing criticism from supporters.
Justin, 26, has been a near-constant fixture at right-back this season, missing only last week’s defeat to Nottingham Forest.
However, with Leicester set to face Ipswich, there is a chance he could return to his usual spot, especially with Victor Kristiansen eyeing a comeback at left-back.
Cooper, however, insists the issue runs deeper than any one player, pointing to the collective responsibility needed to shore up Leicester’s defence.
He believes that focusing solely on Justin’s role misses the broader challenge of covering the entire right side of the pitch.
Justin, an England international, faces a significant workload when he pushes forward as an advanced full-back, joining the attack as a winger in possession and then quickly tracking back when the opposition counters.
This dynamic has left him exposed, as seen with goals conceded against Fulham and Southampton.
“If we’re talking about the right-hand side and conceding goals, I don’t think we should just talk about JJ,” Cooper said.
“Obviously, he’s involved. But it’s not like he’s the only one who defends that side of the pitch. There’s centre-backs that play on that side, midfielders that play on that side, and even attacking players in front.
“We have got to try to cover the work, with and without the ball, for every position and every area of the pitch. That’s the challenge and job if you like. It’s a team thing.
“I’m sure next week there’ll be different topics that are positive and negative. We’ve just got to keep working collectively, keep believing in what we’re doing, and growing the way we want to grow.”
With Ipswich up next, Cooper faces a decision at full-back. Kristiansen’s return from a groin injury may allow Cooper to reinstate him at left-back, moving Justin back to the right.
Alternatively, fans may hope to see Ricardo Pereira, who made his first Premier League appearance of the season against Forest.
During that match, Cooper experimented with an inverted role for Ricardo, echoing a tactic used by Enzo Maresca last season.
However, if Ricardo doesn’t start, Cooper will likely revert to his regular setup, with one full-back pushing high as an attacking winger.
Despite recent defensive challenges, it would be surprising if Justin is left out. After a full match against Manchester United in midweek, he has now logged more minutes than any other Leicester player this season, showcasing his crucial role in Cooper’s squad.