Southampton's best lineup to secure a home win against Leicester City
- Southampton are preparing to face Championship winners Leicester City in the Premier League.
- Southampton's best lineup to secure a home win against Leicester City.
By Aakash Desai
Midfield
Will Smallbone's recovery is a massive injury boost for Southampton, and manager Russell Martin should give the starting defensive midfield role to the Republic of Ireland midfielder. The Saints haven't looked a calm and composed side in the midfield in Smallbone's absence, with Ugochukwu and Aribo giving away possession multiple times in Southampton's half.
Therefore, Smallbone is expected to play in his preferred deep-lying playmaker role to cover the base of the midfield ahead of the centre-back partnership of Harwood-Bellis and Bednarek. Alongside promising stars Tyler Dibling and Cameron Archer, Mateus Fernandes has become an integral part of Southampton's first team squad.
Russell Martin should make surprising centre forward decision against Leicester City. dark. Next. Russell Martin should make surprising centre forward decision against Leicester City
With Smallbone's return to the holding midfield position, Fernandes will be started as an advanced creative playmaker to bring the ball forward inside the final third. On top of that, Fernandes will also provide defensive solidity to the right side and can switch to a more central midfield role when Sugawara makes an encouraging run towards the right flank while going forward.