There are two notable Leicester City talking points to reflect on as the weekend comes to a close. On Saturday, the Foxes secured a 2-0 win away at Cheltenham Town in the third round of the FA Cup, a welcome boost after their disappointing early exit from the League Cup earlier in the season.
Marti Cifuentes opted for a heavily rotated line-up once again, making eight changes for the trip to Gloucestershire. This time, the approach paid off. While the performance was not flawless, the team got the job done and progressed in a competition that still offers a realistic chance of silverware.
Leicester were not entirely convincing at the EV Charger Points Stadium, allowing a League Two side to register nine shots, which will concern the coaching staff. However, the Foxes did create more openings overall, finishing with 12 attempts and dominating set pieces by winning 10 corners to Cheltenham’s one. Even so, the defensive looseness on display is something Cifuentes will want to tighten up.
One player who stood out was Stephy Mavididi. The winger earned Leicester Mercury’s Man of the Match award after a lively display capped by a fine goal. His manager was quick to highlight his importance after the final whistle.
Cifuentes praised Mavididi’s quality and stressed the need for consistency, pointing out that the attacker has the ability to influence matches at Championship level. He also noted that injuries disrupted Mavididi’s rhythm last season and earlier in the current campaign, but expressed hope that the second half of the season will bring out his best form.
Off the pitch, Leicester may be set to miss out on a potential transfer target. Reports from The Scottish Sun suggest Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil could be heading to Rangers instead. Neil had been linked with Leicester, along with West Brom and Coventry City, and his profile would have suited a side looking to get more creativity from wide players like Mavididi.
The same report claims Rangers manager Danny Rohl is being strongly backed in the transfer market and is also considering a move for another Sunderland player, Romaine Mundle. If true, it appears Leicester will need to look elsewhere as they continue shaping their squad for the remainder of the season.