“‘Devil’s Work’: Leicester City Fans Furious Over One Player’s Inclusion in Starting XI vs Newcastle”
Leicester City Fans Express Concerns Over Starting Lineup Ahead of Newcastle Clash
On Premier League matchday 16, Leicester City aim to extend their unbeaten streak under Ruud van Nistelrooy to three games.
After defeating West Ham and drawing against Brighton, the Foxes now face their toughest challenge yet—a clash at St. James’ Park in search of victory.
This match poses significant selection challenges for van Nistelrooy, necessitating multiple changes to the lineup.
One of the key absentees is Wilfred Ndidi, who is sidelined for a couple of weeks following an injury sustained against Brighton last weekend.
Adding to the midfield dilemma, Boubakary Soumare is suspended after his booking in the same game.
These absences forced van Nistelrooy into critical decisions about who would fill the void in midfield.
The likely candidates to replace Ndidi and Soumare were Oliver Skipp and Hamza Choudhury, while youngster Henry Cartwright, spotted in recent training sessions, also emerged as a potential option.
Leicester fans, however, were most vocal about another selection decision: starting Kasey McAteer over Facundo Buonanotte against Newcastle.
While Choudhury and Skipp earned expected starts in midfield, McAteer’s inclusion in the starting XI sparked criticism.
Many fans anticipated Buonanotte’s return after the Argentine missed the Brighton match due to loan restrictions.
One frustrated fan wrote, “Benching Buonanotte for McAteer is the devil’s work.” Another sarcastically remarked, “McAteer must be related to van Nistelrooy.”
Other comments included, “Best lineup aside from McAteer,” and “McAteer hasn’t done nearly enough to keep that spot.”
Supporters expressed disbelief, calling the decision “very questionable.”
Despite the controversy, Leicester can draw optimism from their impressive record at St. James’ Park.
Ahead of the match, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer criticized the current state of his former club, comparing the atmosphere to the tumultuous Mike Ashley era.
This decline in confidence could benefit the Foxes, who have historically excelled at Newcastle’s home ground.
Leicester have won six Premier League matches away at Newcastle—more than against any other opponent, according to BBC Sport.
Remarkably, five of those victories have come in their last seven visits to St. James’ Park.
This strong track record gives Leicester fans plenty of reason to believe their team can secure another positive result in one of the league’s most challenging fixtures.
