Leicester City star may be dropped against Crystal Palace after recent struggles – opinion

Leicester City are seeking their first win of the 2024/25 Premier League season as they prepare to face an out-of-form Crystal Palace.

Despite earning just one point from their two home games, the Foxes can take encouragement from the performances, which showed promise for the future.

Steve Cooper, Leicester’s manager, can draw many positives from the narrow 2-1 defeat to Champions League side Aston Villa, indicating that his team is capable of competing at a high level.

However, one notable issue emerged from the Villa match, which Cooper may need to address.

One of his key midfielders underperformed, and there’s a chance he could be sidelined in favor of another player.

Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi Could Be Dropped Against Crystal Palace

Defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has started every game for Leicester City so far this season and has been a regular in their lineup for several years.

However, his performance against Aston Villa was below par.

Ndidi struggled in his matchup with Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana and former Leicester player Youri Tielemans, finding it difficult to make a significant impact.

According to Leicestershire Live, Ndidi “really struggled on the ball in advanced areas,” which may prompt Cooper to consider playing him in a more defensive role or possibly replacing him altogether for the upcoming match against Crystal Palace.

Who Could Replace Wilfred Ndidi in Leicester’s Midfield?

Should Cooper decide to make a change, he has several options available in midfield, with Boubakary Soumare being a strong candidate.

Soumare has yet to be given a full opportunity this season, having made just one substitute appearance in the home draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

Soumare was an unused substitute in the defeat to Aston Villa, making him a potential choice to replace Ndidi and play in a deeper, more defensive role.

While opting for Soumare would be a bold decision, it may be necessary if Leicester are to improve their midfield balance.

Continuing to use Ndidi in an advanced role may not be the best approach, especially against Crystal Palace.

If Cooper doesn’t revert Ndidi to his more familiar defensive position, where he has thrived in previous seasons, Leicester City may again struggle to create attacking opportunities.

By adjusting the midfield structure, Cooper could improve Leicester’s chances of securing that elusive first win of the campaign.