Gary Rowett takes charge of Leicester training – This could be his first starting XI vs Stoke
Gary Rowett is now on the verge of being named as Leicester City’s new manager after he led his new team’s training session on Thursday.
According to journalist Owynn Palmer-Atkin via his X account, the 51-year-old was the Foxes’ Seagrave training base to take a session with his new group on Wednesday, as he gets his teeth stuck straight into his new job.
Rowett has been out of work since he was sacked by Oxford United on 23 December, but he is now about to take the reins at the King Power Stadium with the clear remit of keeping Leicester in the Championship.
The East Midlands outfit are currently two points adrift of safety after their recent six-point deduction, and Rowett has 14 games of the campaign left to salvage their second tier status, and avoid unprecedented back-to-back relegations.
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Gary Rowett to revert back to last league XI vs Stoke City
Rowett’s first assignment in new role looks set to come on Saturday, when Leicester travel across the Midlands to take on Stoke City in one of the Championship’s 12.30pm kick-offs.
The Potters have seen their promising campaign falter since the turn of the year, and they are currently sitting 14th, and without a win in their last seven games in all competitions.
Rowett and his men will be looking to immediately take advantage of their poor recent run this weekend, as they chase a victory that could immediately lift them out of the bottom three.
The new boss has walked into a major injury crisis, and as a result, he has little room to manoeuvre in terms of his first team selection.
Ben Nelson and Caleb Okoli are set to continue as the centre-back pairing, with Jamaal Lascelles and Jannik Vestergaard both out injured.
The duo of Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks are likely to be given the nod at the base of the midfield, with Joe Aribo unlikely to be fit enough to start having only just returned from injury.
Divine Mukasa has made a big impact in recent weeks and is set to continue in the attacking midfield role, while Rowett faces a 50/50 call between Patson Daka and Jordan Ayew to lead the line.
The likes of Hamza Choudhury, Aaron Ramsey and Jordan James are all still sidelined for Leicester, so Rowett is expected to revert back to a similar XI to the one which was beaten by Southampton in the last league outing.
Which Leicester players could benefit the most from Rowett’s appointment?
Lascelles may be about injured for Leicester at the moment, but the arrival of Rowett will surely be music to his ears in the early stages of his time with the club.
The 32-year-old has only made two appearances for the Foxes since his move from Newcastle on deadline day of the January window, but Rowett will likely lean upon him heavily between now and the end of the season.
The incoming boss will be keen to put his faith in the squad’s experienced heads in order to keep the team in the division, particularly in the spine of the XI, and Lascelles could thrive in that environment.
Stephy Mavididi has also had a disappointing campaign with just three league goal involvements so far, and he will be hoping that Rowett can provide him with the freedom and confidence to get back to his best.
The winger boasts a level of attacking quality that will likely see him become a key figure in the survival fight, and he has the power to fire Leicester to safety on his own if he can get himself firing once again.