Leicester City Fans Urge Ruud van Nistelrooy to Make “Obvious” Selection Choice Against West Ham
Ruud van Nistelrooy to Lead Leicester City for the First Time in Tuesday's Clash Against West Ham United
Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester Era Begins Amid Uncertainty
Ruud van Nistelrooy was officially appointed Leicester City manager on Friday and observed from the stands as his new team suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Brentford on Saturday.
The Dutchman held his first training session with the squad on Sunday, with full attention now turning to their next match at the King Power Stadium against West Ham United.
With several Leicester players nursing injuries, Van Nistelrooy faces uncertainty in selecting his first starting XI. However, some fans are already calling for a significant change.
Fans Push for Hamza Choudhury at Right-Back
Leicester’s right-hand side of defense has been a persistent issue this season. Wout Faes and James Justin struggled defensively against Brentford, leading to widespread calls for changes in the lineup.
Injuries to Ricardo Pereira have left the Foxes short of options in the position, prompting links to Japanese defender Hiroki Sekine as a potential solution.
In the meantime, fans are suggesting Hamza Choudhury as a temporary fix. Although Choudhury has made only three appearances this season, playing just 14 minutes of Premier League football, he has experience at right-back.
Under former manager Enzo Maresca, Choudhury played in the role 10 times, achieving seven wins and five clean sheets.
One fan remarked: “If Ruud adopts Enzo’s system with the RB stepping into DM, Choudhury becomes a no-brainer.”
Another added, “Given our current situation at RB, giving Hamza a chance feels like a necessary gamble.”
Predicted Leicester XI Against West Ham
Despite fan demands, it seems unlikely that Van Nistelrooy will make such a bold move in his first match. With limited preparation time, he is expected to stick to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
One potential change could see Jamie Vardy starting on the bench. At 37, Vardy’s minutes may need to be managed, paving the way for Patson Daka to make his first start of the season.
In defense, Faes will likely partner Jannik Vestergaard, while Victor Kristiansen is expected to return to the lineup, replacing Luke Thomas.
The midfield duo of Boubakary Soumare and Wilfred Ndidi is set to anchor the team, with Stephy Mavididi, Bilal El Khannouss as a central playmaker, and Facundo Buonanotte on the right supporting the striker.
Van Nistelrooy’s debut as Leicester boss comes with high expectations and significant challenges, but a strong performance against West Ham could set the tone for his tenure.
