Confirmed NUFC team vs Leicester – Krafth & Willock return as duo are dropped by Bruce
The teams have been released ahead of tonight's 8pm kick off at Leicester, seeing Steve Bruce make TWO changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Arsenal last weekend.
Joe Willock returns to the starting line up in place of Sean Longstaff, while Ciaran Clark has been dropped - handing a rare and slightly surprising start to Swedish international Emil Krafth.
Here’s the NUFC XI, expected formation and subs bench in full:
(5-3-2): Dubravka – Murphy, Krafth Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie – Willock, Shelvey (c), Almiron – Saint-Maximin, Wilson.
SUBS: Gillespie, Clark, Lewis, Manquillo, Hendrick, S. Longstaff, Carroll, Joelinton, Gayle.
So, Krafth looks set to come in as a right-sided centre-back - a risky move based on his recent displays in this position - and Willock is rightfully recalled after several key goals from the bench. Sean Longstaff is unlucky to drop out, with Bruce proving once again how reluctant he is to drop Jonjo Shelvey!
Elsewhere, Schar misses out through suspension, while Lascelles and Hayden remain out with injuries that could see both miss the rest of the season.
Fraser and Darlow are absent as they continue their recovery from minor operations, with Elliot Anderson also missing with a hip injury and Matt Longstaff left out of the matchday squad once again.
As for Leicester, the hosts line up as follows:
Follow us on Twitter (@NUFCBlogcouk) and on Facebook HERE
