Why Leicester’s Faes, Winks, Okoli and Edouard aren’t playing

Some people are wondering about Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s plans for the LCFC team. Will the Dutchman continue with the system he began with? Will he be more flexible than former Foxes boss Steve Cooper? Can van Nistelrooy cope with altering his style to overcome sides with extra weaknesses? Will he change the formation or set-up when competing with the Premier League’s preeminent clubs?

But, most importantly for some: personnel. Who’s in and who’s out short-term and long-term. For example, what’s happening with Belgium international Wout Faes? Is Harry Winks only absent due to injury? Has Caleb Okoli’s fledgling Foxes career derailed before really getting going? And is Odsonne Edouard truly unwanted at King Power Stadium or at parent outfit Crystal Palace? Why isn’t this unassociated quartet playing for City? Let’s see.

Ruud van Nistelrooy playing favourites after a couple of weeks?!

If you have wondered whether van Nistelrooy is already selecting players he wants to use and discarding those he doesn’t, you’d be correct. That’s what the managerial task is: interpreting your best line-up and disregarding deadwood; phlegmatic solutionists.

When a new gaffer comes into a club, within those parameters are obvious winners and losers. You could say that these five Foxes are winners under van Nistelrooy so far, as pointed out by Jordan Blackwell: Conor Coady, Boubakary Soumare, Kasey McAteer, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka.

However, there are a few high profile Leicester footballers who have actually missed out on playing time since the Manchester United legend arrived on Filbert Way. They are: Wout Faes, Odsonne Edouard and Caleb Okoli.

Harry Winks makes up the four. Although his inclusion in the list is mainly due to injury, I forsee further problems for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder because of his untimely absence.