Four options on how City will cope without midfield star

BRENDAN Rodgers believes the flexibility his Leicester City squad have shown this season will help them to cope with James Maddison’s injury and earn a place in the last 16 of the Europa League.

City host Slavia Prague in the second leg of their last-32 tie tonight (8pm kick-off) and if they are to get into the hat for tomorrow’s draw, they will have to do so without their in-form number 10, who has suffered a recurrence of a hip problem.

So what are City options?

Tielemans moves forward

When Maddison had to be substituted at Aston Villa, Papy Mendy was introduced and Youri Tielemans was pushed higher up the pitch, into the number 10 position.

It was a role Tielemans played at Anderlecht, and he possesses the attributes to both score from distance and to cut open a defence like Maddison does.

However, Rodgers only opted for this set-up when City were leading at Villa, and he may feel it’s too defensive a system to go for from kick-off against Slavia.

Tielemans and Choudhury in box-to-box roles

At the start of Rodgers’ first full season at City, Hamza Choudhury was a regular in a 4-3-3 system.

With Harvey Barnes having not yet established himself as a key player, James Maddison was operating from the left wing, while Tielemans and Choudhury were deployed in box-to-box roles in the middle, with Ndidi sitting behind them.

This could be another option for Rodgers, using Choudhury’s energy to press high up the pitch and then Tielemans alongside him to play the passes, but without sacrificing too much defensive solidity either.

Barnes in a central role

He’s the man of the moment and he could be the man to the rescue.

Against Liverpool, fans got a glimpse of Barnes in a central role with the winger joining Jamie Vardy up front for the final 15 minutes, when City turned the game on its head.

So the England man could partner Vardy, or even drop into Maddison’s position.

He’s not a stranger to an attacking midfield role, having played there for City’s Under-23s, and occasionally during his loan spell at West Brom.

If Barnes moved inside, City could then call on Marc Albrighton to fill in on the left wing.

Rare start for Under

If Rodgers does not want to disrupt a system that has worked well for his side over recent weeks, he could call on Cengiz Under in a straight swap for Maddison.

The Turkish international is more at home on the right wing, but does have good close control and an eye for a pass. Despite his lack of defensive experience, Rodgers may be convinced to give him just his third start in 17 games.