Ricardo back, Vardy decision - Three ways Leicester City could line up vs Southampton

Leicester City will take a huge step towards promotion back to the Premier League on Tuesday night when they take on Southampton.

Enzo Maresca's men will move five points clear of third-placed Ipswich Town, with two games remaining, with victory this evening. Leeds United's 4-3 win over Middlesbrough on Monday means the Foxes can't confirm their promotion in LE2.

City will be looking to build on Saturday's vital win over West Brom. Despite allowing the Baggies to have a number of golden opportunities, Leicester ticked-off another game in their title run-in leaving them with just nine points to play for.

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Southampton's automatic promotion hopes are all but over after losing 2-1 to Cardiff City at the weekend. Russell Martin's side will want to end the normal season in top form ahead of their likely play-off campaign.

Leicester will welcome Ricardo Pereira back to action tonight after he was an unused substitute on Saturday. Hamza Choudhury started in the Portuguese's place and put in one of his best performances for his boyhood club.

Here's how our writers think Leicester should line-up against Southampton...

Josh Holland

The difficult selection decision for Enzo Maresca this evening is whether to put Ricardo Pereira back in or reward Hamza Choudhury for his Man of the Match performance against West Brom with another start.

Obviously Ricardo is better suited to the role but Choudhury's heroics and fight in the 2-1 win over Saturday was exactly what Leicester needed in tense matches. Southampton played a front three of Adam Armstrong, Che Adams and David Brooks against Cardiff meaning the City defence will have to be solid at the back once again.

Ricardo could obviously play a crucial role in the possession-side of the game but Choudhury gets the nod for me. The defence stays the same, as does the midfield.

I was inclined to lean towards a change in attack after Vardy played 85 minutes three days ago. However, Maresca hasn't played Tom Cannon since he returned from injury and Patson Daka's confidence is likely to still be low so the Foxes icon starts.

My starting XI: Hermansen; Choudhury, Coady, Vestergaard, Faes; Winks, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Mavididi; Vardy.

Amie Wilson

The one big decision for me is who plays in the inverted right-back role. It would usually be a straightforward decision if Pereira is available, but Choudhury's heroic performance on Saturday does now make it harder.

Maresca has confirmed that Ricardo should be available after only being fit enough to make the bench at the weekend. While it’s harsh on Choudhury, I would bring Ricardo back in - you can’t turn down the quality that the Portuguese brings to the pitch.

Coady’s inclusion at the weekend is one that has been called for for some time, and I think his leadership did make a difference. I would therefore stick with the same back line, while Faes isn’t a natural left-back he coped pretty well at the weekend, Callum Doyle could potentially come back in, but I would then be worried about a lack of pace in the back line.

Up front, I think you now have to start with Vardy given the importance of the games. His workrate was evident against West Brom where he won a penalty and then scored what turned out to be the crucial winning goal.

My starting XI: Hermansen; Ricardo, Coady, Vestergaard, Faes; Winks, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Mavididi; Vardy.

Shane Ireland

Win tonight and Leicester will surely be looking at the Premier League. After beating West Brom on Saturday, confidence will be high in the King Power Stadium and Maresca will be hoping to carry it over to tonight.

As Josh and Amie have mentioned, the big dilemma comes in the right-back role. I think Ricardo will come in for Choudhury due to his superior passing ability. It's possession vs possession tonight meaning City will need to be at the top of their game in the department.

It's in attack where I think we could see another change. Vardy has often been replaced in the starting XI after playing three days prior - most recently the Millwall and Plymouth double-header - meaning it's probable that Maresca will rest the 37-year-old.

Daka may not be everyone's favourite but in place of Vardy, it's hard to see Cannon starting. The summer signing hasn't started a game of football since the 1-0 win over Bournemouth in February.

My starting XI: Hermansen; Ricardo, Coady, Vestergaard, Faes; Winks, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Mavididi; Daka.