Cooper Faces Tough Decision for Leicester City Clash Against Crystal Palace, Repeating Unpopular Choice – Opinion

Leicester City will be aiming for their first win of the season as they travel to face Crystal Palace.

Steve Cooper’s side has only managed to secure one point so far, but their fixtures have been challenging.

Despite picking up just a single point at the King Power Stadium this season, Leicester has shown promise in matches against teams like Tottenham Hotspur.

However, their away performance against Fulham left much to be desired.

With Leicester expected to struggle in the lower half of the Premier League table, teams like Crystal Palace are the ones they must target for points.

One key absence for Palace is Odsonne Edouard, who cannot play against his parent club.

This gives Jamie Vardy a likely starting spot for the Foxes, though Cooper may need to consider making an unpopular but necessary decision regarding the forward line.

Steve Cooper Should Explore Alternative Attackers to Support Jamie Vardy

At 37 years old, Jamie Vardy is undoubtedly past his peak, but he remains a crucial part of Leicester’s attack this season.

Cooper acknowledged Vardy’s efforts, saying: “We’ve used the two weeks to get the training into him while preparing him to be ready for a game as well.

He played 90 minutes in the last game and nearly won a penalty at the end, so he wasn’t flagging.

That’s testament to his professionalism” (Leicester Mercury).

However, with Vardy playing extensive minutes, the risk of injury increases, which could severely disrupt Cooper’s plans.

To avoid overburdening Vardy, Cooper must look to other options from the bench to replace him during games.

Cooper Might Need to Revive a Previously Unpopular Decision

During pre-season, an injury to Patson Daka saw Cooper make the surprising decision to have Stephy Mavididi lead the line, despite Tom Cannon being available on the bench.

Although this choice was criticized at the time, it could now make sense for a Leicester team lacking depth up front in their clash against Crystal Palace.

While Vardy remains committed and capable of playing 90 minutes, the physical toll on a player of his age cannot be ignored.

With limited options, Cooper may need to turn to younger players like Facundo Buonanotte, who could provide fresh legs for the final 15 minutes, giving Vardy some much-needed rest.

As Leicester struggles with limited striker options and fatigue risks for Vardy, finding a balance in the attack could be crucial for their performance against Crystal Palace and for the season ahead.