90min

Leicester predicted lineup vs Napoli - Europa League

By Matt O'Connor-Simpson

Leicester beat Legia Warsaw on matchday five
Leicester beat Legia Warsaw on matchday five / John Berry/GettyImages
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Leicester City's dramatic Europa League group stage will come to a close on Thursday when they travel to face Serie A high-fliers Napoli.

Going into the final matchday all four teams in Group C can still progress to the knockout stages, and things could not be much closer.

Unfortunately for Brendan Rodgers, he still has a wafer thin squad to choose from due to a combination of Covid-19, other illness and injuries. Here is the starting XI he seems likely to select to get the job done...

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Caglar Soyuncu
Soyuncu will start again / Michael Steele/GettyImages

Kasper Schmeichel (GK) - Schmeichel has come in for criticism of late due to his wayward kicking and low save percentage. However, he will still be starting on Thursday.

Timothy Castagne (RB) - With Ricardo Pereira and James Justin still missing, Castange shall continue in the right-back berth.

Caglar Soyuncu (CB) - One of only four Leicester players to not miss a Europa League game this season, he will start once again here.

Jonny Evans (CB) - Jannik Vestergaard and Daniel Amartey have not travelled so Evans will be expected to complete the full 90 minutes in Italy.

Luke Thomas (LB) - Thomas seems to have established himself as Leicester's first-choice left-back in front of summer arrival Ryan Bertrand - who has done little of note so far.

2. Midfielders

Boubakary Soumare
Soumare should be restored to the side / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

Boubakary Soumare (CM) - Dropped for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during the defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday, the more controlled Soumare will return here.

Wilfred Ndidi (CM) - Sent off in the reverse fixture, Ndidi has a point to prove against Napoli.

James Maddison (AM) - Maddison is in a rich vein of form and he has already scored and assisted twice in the Europa League this season. If his side are to be successful on Thursday, he will be key.

3. Forwards

Jamie Vardy
Vardy looks likely to be preferred to Patson Daka / Robin Jones/GettyImages

Patson Daka (RW) - With most of Leicester's other wide options out, Daka will likely be shunted out to the wing here.

Jamie Vardy (ST) - Rested for the Villa loss with one eye on this game, Vardy needs to bring his shooting boots to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Harvey Barnes (LW) - Barnes is such an exciting player but he needs to up his productivity to help his side arrest the slump.

You can read 90min's full preview of Napoli vs Leicester here.

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