Gary Rowett brings in Jamaal Lascelles, Ricardo Pereira, Harry Winks and Patson Daka for the game against the Hornets
13:55, 21 Mar 2026Updated 13:56, 21 Mar 2026
Ben Nelson in action before his knee injury in Leicester City’s 2-1 defeat to Oxford(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Ben Nelson is the man to be replaced by Jamaal Lascelles in the Leicester City line-up as Gary Rowett breaks up his centre-back pairing for the first time.
The City manager had hinted heavily that he would bring in Lascelles for what is just his second start since his January transfer from Newcastle.
The decision was then on who would drop out, and it’s Nelson who makes way following his errors against QPR. Caleb Okoli remains in the side.
Lascelles is one of four changes to the team to take on Watford, with Ricardo Pereira in at right-back in place of Hamza Choudhury, Harry Winks back into the fold in midfield with Divine Mukasa dropping out, and with Patson Daka replacing Jordan Ayew up front.
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With Winks back in to play alongside Oliver Skipp, City are reverting to the 4-2-3-1 formation they have played in away games under Rowett, instead of the 4-1-4-1 they’ve played in recent home fixtures.
That means Jordan James will be playing as the sole number 10, with Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi out wide and Daka leading the line.
At the back, Luke Thomas remains at left-back, while Jakub Stolarczyk keeps the gloves.
All of the dropped players are on the bench, but there is one change to the substitutes list, with Bade Aluko replacing Dujuan Richards.
City (4-2-3-1): Stolarczyk; Ricardo, Okoli, Lascelles, Thomas; Skipp, Winks; Fatawu, James, Mavididi; Daka.
Subs: Vieites, Choudhury, Nelson, Aluko, Aribo, Mukasa, De Cordova-Reid, Monga, Ayew.