How Leicester City could line up against Manchester United

Leicester City get their 2018-19 Premier League campaign up and running with a daunting trip to Manchester United on Friday evening.

Travelling to Old Trafford so early in the season may prove a blessing in disguise for the Foxes, however, as the Red Devils have a number of injury and fitness doubts.

The 2015-16 English champions have concerns of their own on the back of the World Cup, though, namely Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire who were involved in the tournament with England until the final throes.

Ahead of the curtain-raising clash at Old Trafford, Sports Mole predicts the starting lineup Claude Puel will select.

Out: Matty James Doubts: Jamie Vardy, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, James Maddison, Nampalys Mendy

The Foxes' only confirmed absentee for the opening fixture of the new season is midfielder James, who is recovering from Achilles surgery that he underwent at the end of the previous campaign.

More of a concern for Puel will be the fitness of Vardy and Maguire - the latter a transfer target for United ahead of the big kickoff - and both men will only start on the bench at best following a shortened pre-season.

Maddison, who arrived from Norwich City in a £22m deal, is carrying a slight knock and may also be restricted to a place among the subs, although Puel will do everything in his power to get the midfield man ready.

Fellow summer signing Evans should also be ready to feature against his former club, meanwhile, and we may get a first glance of Ricardo Pereira at right-back.

Elsewhere, Algerian winger Rachid Ghezzal needs time to settle in following his arrival last week, with this game likely coming too soon for a full debut.