Simon Grayson reflects on Leeds United boost for Leicester City clash and identifies key battle between Whites and Foxes

SIMON GRAYSON’S Leeds United affinity is well documented but there’s also plenty of love for Leicester City.
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For the second time this season the two clubs with whom he is most associated will battle it out in the Premier League this weekend.

Grayson was optimistic about newly-promoted United’s prospects in November’s clash at Elland Road only to see Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites picked apart by a ruthless counter attacking display from the Foxes.

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Nearly three months on, Leicester are being talked up in some quarters as title contenders and sit third ahead of Sunday’s ‘rematch’ against the Whites.

KEY TRIO: Leicester City's James Maddison, left, Jamie Vardy, centre, and Wesley Fofana, right. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.KEY TRIO: Leicester City's James Maddison, left, Jamie Vardy, centre, and Wesley Fofana, right. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.
KEY TRIO: Leicester City's James Maddison, left, Jamie Vardy, centre, and Wesley Fofana, right. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.

Yet with at least one major difference to the Foxes side that lined up in Yorkshire, Grayson believes Leeds have every chance of pulling off a mini upset against a Foxes side missing “talisman” Jamie Vardy.

Last season’s Golden Boot winner Vardy bagged what was already his seventh goal of the season in November’s 4-1 victory at Elland Road in which Leeds suffered their first major bump upon life back in the Premier League against the pacy Foxes.

Vardy, though, will miss Sunday’s clash at The King Power Stadium having undergone a minor operation on a hernia problem.

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The striker had already netted 11 goals for the Premier League campaign by the time the decision was made to send Vardy for minor surgery after this month’s 2-0 victory at home to Chelsea.

Ayoze Perez has consequently filled the lone striker role in Leicester’s last two games – Sunday’s 3-1 victory at Brentford in the FA Cup and Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Everton.

Former Whites youngster and manager, but also ex-Foxes defender Grayson knows there is more to Leicester than just Vardy and feels the midfield battle between City’s no 10 James Maddison and United’s holding midfielder Kalvin Phillips will be particularly key.

There is, though, says Grayson, no doubting that if there is such a thing as a good time to face Leicester then this could well be it.

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“Leeds have a chance of winning any game they are involved in because it’s just the team that they are,” Grayson told the YEP.

“Any game Leeds are going into they feel they have got a chance of winning but you look from the outside and think they could lose it as well against anything in the top half of the division.

“I think they have got a good chance of beating any team in the bottom half but this is a tough game because Leicester have proved all season and last season that they are a club that are developing again. They have got a real strong squad and I like the look of them.

“They have got a real mixed bag of different styles of winning football matches.

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“They defend well, they can sit deep and hit you on the counter attack sometimes if you go and press high up the pitch.

“They have got some good pace and creativity in the team and they are obviously playing with a lot of confidence.

“The thing that is not going to help them this weekend is that Vardy is going to be out as he has obviously been a massive part of Leicester’s success.

“That is going to be a massive plus for Leeds but on their day Leeds can cope with any of the top teams, any team in the Premier League and that’s why I think it is going to be a real exciting open game and a good game. Any time that Jamie Vardy is not playing for Leicester then it’s a massive boost for whoever they are playing.

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“But they still went to Everton on Wednesday night and got a good point against another strong team so it’s not as if they have got nobody else.

“But he just adds something to them because he is their talisman and any time you are playing a team that doesn’t have their talisman in, no matter who it is, it is always an advantage definitely.

“Perez and (Kelechi) Iheanacho are not anywhere near Vardy’s pace so it might be that they can’t run away from whoever is going to play centre-back at the weekend.

“That will be a positive to Leeds and I don’t think it will harm them as much in terms of the open space.”

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After being picked off by Leicester’s pace at Elland Road, Grayson feels Leeds would be wise to tweak their tactics regarding their full-backs for Sunday’s rematch.

“You have just got to make sure that you don’t give Leicester too much space down the sides,” he said.

“But Vardy is not going to be playing. That will be a positive to Leeds and I don’t think it will harm them as much in terms of the open space.

“Yes they have still got (Marc) Albrighton and Harvey Barnes who have got the space but you have still got to be careful when you push your full-backs on that you don’t leave that space down the sides for Vardy but I don’t think Perez has got that sort of dynamic pace that Vardy has got.”

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Leicester also suffered a potential blow in Wednesday’s clash at Everton as centre midfielder Wilfred Ndidi was forced off with a hamstring injury which will be assessed.

“He’s a big influential player in the middle of the park,” said Grayson of Ndidi. Him and (Youri) Tielemans have been really strong.

“I like the look of those two in there, they are quite protective of the back four.”

Yet while doubts surround the participation of Ndidi and Vardy is definitely out, there is little doubt about the participation of two players who will line up as England team-mates yet in combat in midfield.

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Foxes England international James Maddison already has six goals and two assists for the campaign and Grayson says it will be largely down to United’s Three Lions star Kalvin Phillips to stop him.

“He’s certainly showing a lot more consistency this season and creativity,” said Grayson of Maddison.

“He scores goals from distance and makes things happen, very much in the Jack Grealish role but he plays more as a 10.

“But he’s a creative player, playing with a lot of confidence and it will be a key battle between him and Kalvin if he is playing as a 10 and Kalvin is the holding midfield player.

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“I also like the look of (Wesley) Fofana the centre-back, he has been a real key player.

“He looks really comfortable on the ball and alongside Jonny Evans, has been defensively very strong and they are going to have to be against Leeds’ attacking options.

"Leeds have been known this season for how well they are doing at the top end of the pitch and again at Newcastle they showed what they can produce out of nothing at times.

“Raphinha is really settling into the Premier League quickly now and Jack Harrison is getting some consistency.

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“Patrick Bamford has gone a few games without a goal but Leicester will be soundly aware of what Leeds can bring to the game.”

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