LeicestershireLive writers debate which players should have been given more opportunities, with Gary Rowett choosing to focus on the senior members of his squad
Jordan Blackwell
11:50, 17 Apr 2026
Leicester City’s overlooked players are debated in our latest Foxes Forum
Leicester City have 31 players listed in their first-team squad and so even when there are injuries, there are going to be a handful of players missing out on the 20-man matchday group.
But which of those City players have been unfairly overlooked? Who should have been given more opportunities? It’s perhaps become a bigger topic of conversation with Gary Rowett focusing on the more senior players.
Here, our writers discuss the players they would like to have seen more of.
Football writer and Foxes fan Amie Wilson writes: For me, it’s between two players, depending on how you want to look at it. I do think Jeremy Monga should be given more time in the starting line-up, especially considering the struggles that Stephy Mavididi has had this season.
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I do, however, see the reluctance to throw a 16-year-old into a team that’s making basic errors in attack and defence. Mavididi does work hard to cover his defender, and you could lose that slightly with Monga coming in.
But I think that he should be given a chance from the start, given what he can do in attack and the unpredictability that he brings.
The second one for me is Joe Aribo. He has started once since joining the club, and only made a couple of appearances off the bench in a wide position.
Given Rowett’s comments about changing the team, I would quite like to see Aribo given a chance in central midfield, either alongside Jordan James, with either Divine Mukasa or Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the number 10, or one of Oliver Skipp or Harry Winks, with James then playing further forward. The good news is that Rowett has a few options to change around the midfield.
Football writer and Post Horn Gallop editor Daniel Orme writes: In honesty, I think most of the senior pros within the City squad have had a fair crack of the whip this season. Those that haven’t have been restricted to the sidelines through injury so it’s difficult to say they would be deserving of more opportunities.
There is one standout name for me though and it’s Bade Aluko. The 19-year-old has made just five league appearances this season, with his first start ending in disaster with a red card at Southampton.
But he’s clearly a talented defender and he should have been the solution to Leicester’s right-back woes. When Ricardo Pereira has needed a rest, Aluko should have been drafted in instead of the out-of-position Hamza Choudhury.
Of course, it might be too soon to suggest that Aluko should be a regular starter in the side but given the issues that City have faced in defence, it’s somewhat baffling that he hasn’t had more opportunities throughout the campaign.
City correspondent Jordan Blackwell writes: Aluko should have been given more opportunities, especially late in games when City have been chasing a result, simply because he provides something different, and something unpredictable.
It’s understandable that Rowett would not trust him to start matches. He’s still learning the ropes and his attacking tendencies mean he’s more likely to be caught out of position.
But the way he gets forward from full-back, dribbling really confidently, racing down the line and getting beyond his winger, is different to how City’s other full-backs play. That helps add variety to City’s attacking play.
There was a moment in the defeat to Charlton when he played at centre-back where he carried the ball through the middle of the pitch. It was a fearless move, and an unexpected one, and Charlton didn’t know what to do to stop him.
That’s what City need when they’re struggling to break down the opposition. Somebody who is going to do something out of the ordinary.
Who do you think should have been given more opportunities? Click HERE to have your say.