Leicester City predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest - FA Cup
Leicester City's bid to retain their maiden FA Cup triumph continues with a trip to Nottingham Forest in the fourth round on Sunday afternoon.
The Foxes could become the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1885 to win the FA Cup the season after their first victory in the tournament. Yet, Brendan Rodgers and his side have to navigate their way past their east Midlands rivals before any Wembley fantasies can take hold.
Here's the side Rodgers may deploy to stretch their winning run in the game's oldest cup competition to eight.
Leicester City predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest - FA Cup
1. Goalkeepers & defenders
???'? ????? on Marc Albrighton ? ? pic.twitter.com/dakG0L2w57
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 31, 2022
Danny Ward (GK) - As the side's go-to cup keeper (particularly in the early rounds), the Wales international hasn't lost a club game since December 2020.
Marc Albrighton (RB) - With the likely unavailability of Ricardo Pereira and Timothy Castagne, Rodgers may shoehorn Albrighton into defence for fear of overworking the recently returned James Justin.
Daniel Amartey (CB) - Given the brevity of Ghana's involvement in AFCON, the forgotten member of Leicester's title win only missed one league match.
Jannik Vestergaard (CB) - The tallest member of Leicester's squad accounts for one of the league-high six Premier League penalties the Foxes have given up.
Luke Thomas (LB) - Following the transfer deadline day loan of Vontae Daley Campbell, Rodgers has few options other than turning to Luke Thomas in the continued absence of Ryan Bertrand.
2. Midfielders
Boubakary Soumare (CM) - The serial French youth international has been eased back into the fold following the club's trio of postponed matches to begin 2022.
Hamza Choudhury (CM) - Shunted into an unnatural centre back position for the previous round, a performance his manager described as 'sensational' may have earned him a return to a more familiar midfield role.
James Maddison (AM) - Rodgers can scarcely afford to leave out a player in the form enjoyed by Maddison, with 13 direct goal contributions in his past 12 appearances (eight goals, five assists).
3. Forwards
Patson Daka is the only #PL player this season to average a goal and assist every 1️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ minutes played ? pic.twitter.com/O39zXByVQ7
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 30, 2022
Ayoze Perez (RW) - The former Newcastle forward has missed as many Premier League games through suspension as he's started this season (three) - but was called upon in the previous round of the cup.
Patson Daka (ST) - Stepping into the void left by the injured Jamie Vardy, Daka has either created or scored a goal in each of his past six starts for Leicester.
Ademola Lookman (LW) - The RB Leipzig loanee was one of only three players (along with Sorba Thomas and Mads Bidstrup) to create multiple goals in this season's FA Cup third round.