Amid a mounting crisis of confidence, Leicester City travel North to meet League Two strugglers Stockport County in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
While the faltering Foxes have taken just a point from three games so far, their hosts have lost four of five league fixtures - including a 2-1 defeat to Mansfield at the weekend.
Match preview
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Still seeking a first victory of the new Premier League season, following their capitulation at home to Southampton on Saturday, Leicester City's sluggish start is drawing intense scrutiny given recent events in the transfer market.
With the futures of stars such as James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Chelsea target Wesley Fofana all sources of concern until the window finally slides shut, the Foxes have been unable to produce a convincing display to date.
Brendan Rodgers may have steered his side to victory in each of their final three pre-season friendlies, but since competitive action kicked off this month, they have only one point from a home game against Brentford to show for their troubles.
The Foxes threw away the chance to improve on that tally by letting a one-goal lead slip at the weekend, as Maddison's opener was ultimately rendered meaningless by a second-half Che Adams double for their South Coast visitors.
Now, Leicester must dust themselves off and return to cup competition, in which they have enjoyed themselves during recent times: a couple of runs in Europe were topped by their FA Cup win, but that now seems so very long ago.
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While Leicester have been soaking up the spotlight over the past few years, former second-tier rivals Stockport County have been in the doldrums for most of that period.
However, as last term's National League champions, the Hatters started the 2022-23 campaign with momentum on their side, after finally ending an 11-year absence from league football.
Dave Challinor's side have struggled to convert that currency into points during the opening weeks of the season, and after slumping to a three-goal deficit in their opening fixture at home to Barrow - before going on to lose 3-2 - they have lost a further three times and won just once.
While life in League Two has proved challenging so far, County celebrated re-entry into the EFL Cup with a 1-0 win at Harrogate Town earlier this month, and will now hope to spring a major upset and embark on a money-spinning cup run.
Many years have passed since the 1996-97 season, which saw Stockport finish runners-up in the Second Division and reach the League Cup semis after eliminating three Premiership clubs, and despite Leicester's current woes their chance of repeating such feats remains slim.
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Team News
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With fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United to tackle in the coming days, Brendan Rodgers is likely to make sweeping changes to his Leicester side for Tuesday's trip to Lancashire.
While Wesley Fofana remains sidelined as his transfer saga rumbles on, the visitors could turn to Caglar Soyuncu to lead the back four, as Jonny Evans is offered a break.
Harvey Barnes may start again, though, after featuring for the first time this season against Southampton, with Ayoze Perez also hoping to keep his place on the right flank; Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka are in contention to replace the rested Jamie Vardy, who signed a contract extension last week.
Meanwhile, after consecutive 2-1 league losses, Stockport may also opt to rotate their squad for the Foxes' visit.
Dave Challinor brought in Mark Kitching and Fraser Horsfall for Myles Hippolyte and the suspended Macauley Southam-Hales at the weekend, but the latter is now back from his ban and could feature on the right flank.
Captain Paddy Madden should lead the line up front, with Kyle Wootton and Ollie Crankshaw competing to support him.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Jaros; Lewis, Horsfall, Johnson; Southam-Hales, Croasdale, Camps, Kitching; Sarcevic, Crankshaw; Madden
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Ward; Castagne, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas; Mendy, Tielemans, Praet; Perez, Daka, Barnes
We say: Stockport County 0-2 Leicester City
Three-time League Cup winners - in 1964, 1997 and 2000 - Leicester are overdue a deep run in this competition, given their cup exploits of recent times. Despite their difficulties, they still boast an able and versatile squad which can take care of business against opponents from the foot of the EFL pyramid.
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Jonathan O'Shea
