Dugout Discussion

Vardy and Ings start in Sunday’s early Gameweek 4 kick-offs

Jamie Vardy (£10.1m) starts for Leicester at home to West Ham this afternoon, with Brendan Rodgers having stated on Friday that the striker’s ongoing hip issue is nothing to worry about.

At his pre-match press conference, the Foxes chief explained:

Jonny [Evans] is fine. Thankfully he just felt it a little tight but it was more having played his first game, so he was okay.

And like I said afterwards, Jamie is absolutely fine. He has this little something in his hip which takes a few days to settle down and he’s fine, he’s okay.

Dennis [Praet], we’ll see how he is. He’s trained but we just need to see what the reaction is for that. Obviously, he came off but that wasn’t as serious as what we thought.

Dennis Praet (£5.5m) does not make the squad despite featuring in training, though Jonny Evans (£5.5m) is fit to start. James Maddison (£7.0m) is the other notable absentee from the Leicester 18, with Rodgers stating that the midfielder is sidelined due to a calf injury.

Evans is joined in a three-man central defence by Caglar Soyuncu (£5.5m) and Daniel Amartey (£4.0m). New Leicester centre-back Wesley Fofana (not yet priced) is on the bench, along with on-loan winger Cengiz Ünder (£6.0m).

Rodgers set his team up in a 5-4-1 formation away to Manchester City in Gameweek 3, though it seems likely that James Justin (£4.7m) and Timothy Castagne (£5.7m) will be operating as wing-backs from kick off today.

That will match up with West Ham’s system, which will be overseen remotely by David Moyes.

New signing Vladimir Coufal (£4.5m) appears to have already ended any hopes of Ben Johnson (£4.0m) nailing down the right wing-back role in the enforced absence of Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m).

On Coufal, stand-in West Ham boss Alan Irvine commented:

He’s certainly ready in terms of the match preparation because of the level he’s been playing at. Physically, he’s ready.

The one thing you would’ve liked was a little bit more time with the group of players so he understood the role that we’re looking for from him.

But he’s an experienced player, from the signs in the couple of training sessions he’s had with us I’d expect him to cope.

The Hammers are otherwise unchanged from their 4-0 victory at home to Wolves last weekend.

Danny Ings (£8.5m) continues his strike partnership with Che Adams (£5.9m) for Southampton, who welcome Nathan Redmond (£6.4m) back to their matchday squad following a minor injury.

Jannik Vestergaard (£4.5m) keeps his place at centre-back in an unchanged XI for Ralph Hasenhuttl, meaning Jack Stephens (£4.9m) must make do with a place on the bench.

Pre-match, the Southampton boss remarked:

Our pre-season was everything but not perfect. We did not have time to work with the players and we have had a few injuries. Those games at the beginning, not fit players. You had to find the right solutions. Tough work at the moment.

Danny Ings is working like the other guys are working. He gets in a position where he can score and when he is in the box he is very good.

I liked to play in this kind of weather when I was a player, it will be a good battle I think.

West Brom are the visitors to St. Mary’s, with Slaven Bilic make one change to the side which began the 3-3 draw at Chelsea in GW3.

Midfielder Kyle Edwards (£4.9m) replaces Darnell Furlong (£4.5m) at right wing-back.

Former Fantasy Premier League legend Branislav Ivanovic (£4.5m) is part of the Baggies’ matchday squad along with Filip Krovinovic (£5.0m), who has rejoined the club on another season-long loan.

There is no place in the 18 for Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher (£5.5m).

Leicester XI (5-4-1/3-4-3): Schmeichel; Justin, Soyuncu, Evans, Amartey, Castagne; Barnes, Tielemans, Mendy, Perez; Vardy.

West Ham XI (3-4-3): Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Balbuena; Masuaku, Soucek, Rice, Coufal; Fornals, Antonio, Bowen.

Southampton XI (4-2-2-2): A McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Walker-Peters; Ward-Prowse, Romeu; Djenepo, Armstrong; Ings, Adams.

West Brom XI (3-4-3): Johnstone; O’Shea, Bartley, Ajayi; C Townsend, Sawyers, Livermore, Edwards; Diangana, C Robinson, M Pereira.

1,300 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Fed
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    BARNES YOU LEGEND

  2. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Lovely goal!

  3. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Oh thank goodness.

  4. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Barnes baby!

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Barnes goal but Vardy assist ffs

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That's even worse ffs

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I have Barnes

  6. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Wtf Barnes, there was supposed to be no returns from this

  7. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Vardy Barnes

  8. sambyy
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Yes Barnes what a goal!!

  9. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    need help:
    a. keep foden
    b. transfer to hamez for free

    thx

  10. Cocomelon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Bloody vardy

  11. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Vardy assist!

  12. Rassi
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    BAAARNESSSS

  13. las90855
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    took a hit to get maddison in, maddison don't play

    1. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Very unfortunate. Hopefully better luck coming your way soon!

  14. Zilla
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Oh no

  15. Vlekz
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I don't really like my team. But who to bring on a wildcard? Nobody except Everton and Liverpool look consistent

    • 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Cmon WBA!

    • Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No goal

    • Beatle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks Barnes you legend

    • Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Get innnnnn

      1. bOttOmEdpOstrEpliEr.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Looooooool at you. freeze me to heaven pls.

    • mattk lfc
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Why can't we have nice things

    • Right In The Stanchion
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      VAR NO GOAL

    • Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      That was a lovely bit of passing between the team.

    • Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      no goal

    • Party time
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I will take the Vardy assist & run away!

        1. Whazza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          ... 😆

          1. Party time
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Dammit

        2. KGFC
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Offside 😆

        3. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          wait

        4. Zilla
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          not the armpits again

        5. Weak Become Heros
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Irons!

        6. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Oh FACK RIGHT OFF

        7. The Fed
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          What a cruel game