Leicester City mark their return to the Championship with an opening-weekend fixture against Coventry City on Sunday afternoon.
While the Foxes are back at this level of football after relegation from the Premier League, their opponents only missed out on a place in the top flight courtesy of a playoff-final defeat in May.
Match preview
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After nine years in the Premier League, a period where they famously won the title and reached the Champions League quarter-finals, Leicester are back competing in the second tier of English football.
A wide array of players have departed the King Power Stadium, most notably James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, but relegation may eventually prove to be a blessing in disguise, with the Foxes requiring a refresh in both players and in the dugout.
Enzo Maresca, formerly a coach at Manchester City, has been tasked with leading the new era, and Leicester fans have reason for optimism given the players that have arrived through the door.
Securing the services of Conor Coady, Callum Doyle and Harry Winks are all major deals for the East Midlands giants, as is Stephy Mavididi leaving Ligue 1 to return to England where he was formerly on the books of Arsenal.
Pre-season proved to be indifferent - Leicester were blown away by Liverpool last weekend - but that will soon be forgotten if they get their campaign up and running with maximum points.
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Achieving that will be easier said than done as they face opponents who are motivated to prove that last season's journey to the playoff final was not a one-off.
The sale, albeit for big money, of top goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres naturally came as a blow, yet it has provided Mark Robins with the financial firepower to significantly strengthen his squad in numerous areas.
Naturally, the focus will be on Ellis Simms and, allegedly, Haji Wright with the pair having been chosen as the fresh faces to lead the line, but Robins has acquired talent from far and wide to put together a group of players that look stronger than in 2022-23.
While Coventry took a low-key approach to pre-season, only playing lower-end EFL sides, they recorded three wins and one draw from that quartet of fixtures.
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- W
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- D
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Team News
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With Coady having suffered a foot injury in pre-season, Maresca must decide whether to partner Jannik Vestergaard or Harry Souttar with Callum Doyle in the middle of defence.
Although Jamie Vardy has also been carrying a fitness issue, it is only deemed to be minor, and the club legend may be in a position to return to the substitutes' bench.
A number of players will be in contention for the left-wing role, depending on whether Mavididi is deemed ready to start, with Kasey McAteer and Kelechi Iheanacho regarded as alternatives in the final third.
Robins may look to select a Coventry side similar to the one that started the recent friendly with Exeter City, but Gustavo Hamer should be drafted back into the midfield.
Of the new arrivals, Brad Collins, Bobby Thomas, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jay Dasilva, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Simms could all feature in the team.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Castagne, Vestergaard, Doyle, Pereira; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Albrighton, Daka, McAteer
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Collins; Thomas, McFadzean, Latibeaudiere; Dasilva, Eccles, Sheaf, Sakamoto; Hamer; Godden, Simms
We say: Leicester City 3-1 Coventry City
With both clubs undergoing a significant rebuild, this is a difficult match to call. Coventry may relish the chance to play the title favourites first up, yet the Foxes have the greater quality and experience, making them most likely to prevail in our view.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
