Injured: Kasper Schmeichel
ISLAM SLIMANI
Islam Slimani arrived late on in the transfer fee for a big fee and with a big reputation. So far he’s netted five goals in all competitions – four in the Premier League – with Riyad Mahrez the only Foxes player to outscore the Algerian. He was brilliant at Sporting Lisbon scoring 48 league goals in just 83 games, and he’s also shown his class on the international stage with 23 goals in 46 appearances. At 6’2 he’s a big lad and he’s built for the Premier League, so I think he’ll continue to make a big impact at the King Power Stadium.
ROBERT HUTH
Leicester City have lost just one of their last nine Premier League games against Sunderland, keeping six clean sheets during that time – a big reason for that, at least in recent times, is Robert Huth. Deemed surplus to requirements at Stoke City, the Foxes snapped him up for just £3m following a six-month loan spell and he’s never looked back. The German struck up a brilliant understanding with Wes Morgan during his first season at the King Power Stadium and although he’s been around the block he’s still only 32, so he has a couple of years left in the tank. His physical presence will make life difficult for Jermain Defoe this weekend but with Victor Anichebe now in the team, Huth’s life on Wearside might be about to get a little tougher.
DEMARAI GRAY
For me, Demarai Gray is one of Leicester’s most dangerous players. He’s direct, he’s quick and he’s got a bag of tricks to bamboozle defenders even when it looks like he’s turned into a dead end. The Foxes have so much attacking talent from Mahrez to Slimani to Vardy, as well as Ahmed Musa and and Shinji Okazaki, so places are always tough to come by, but he’s played a big role this season making 14 appearances. He’s only scored one goal this season – but what a goal it was at Old Trafford – so if he can add more to his game he’s going to be a real player who we watch for a very long time.
JAMIE VARDY
Jamie Vardy was absolutely unstoppable last season and we all know about his rise from non-league football to the promised land, but for the first time in a few years he’s struggling for form and he can’t find the back of the net. For me, that makes him even more dangerous this weekend. His class was there for all to see last year and you don’t lose that overnight, and his direct play could cause Sunderland problems. The England international is without a domestic goal since 10 September – a run of 14 games – but it won’t be long until he’s firing again.
BEN CHILWELL
Ben Chilwell is a player I’ve been aware of from a few years now and he’s rapidly turning into a fine player. Linked with a move to Liverpool in the summer, it’s no surprise that the big clubs are taking a look at the 19-year-old despite the fact he’s only made two appearances during the current campaign. He’s currently behind Christian Fuchs in the pecking order but having signed a new contract in July, I’d back him to break into the first team and compete for a starting berth before the end of the season.
