This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Southampton welcome Leicester to St Mary’s on Friday night, where the Saints will be hoping to put their dismal form of late to an end.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side lost their last three Premier League games on the bounce before the 1-1 draw against Wolves last time out, succumbing to defeat against Bournemouth, Tottenham and Chelsea prior to the score draw at Molineux.
Contrastingly, the Foxes are flying. Brendan Rodgers has his side sat 3rd in the Premier League, just two points off 2nd-placed Manchester City – the former Liverpool boss is working wonders at the King Power Stadium.
The likes of Ricardo Pereira, Ben Chilwell and Jamie Vardy have been standout performers, but there’s one man who Oriol Romeu needs to keep an eye on in particular.
Who is it?
James Maddison.
The Englishman – who signed from Norwich for £20m back in 2018 – has been in fine form so far this season, scoring two goals and recording two assists in eight Premier League appearances.
Leicester’s No.10 is a big-game player, having netted a late winner against Tottenham as well as what appeared to be an equaliser against European champions Liverpool, but for James Milner’s 94th minute penalty.
Maddison averages a whopping 3.3 shots per game in the league this term, as well as 2.9 dribbles per game – the England Under-21 international is certainly a handful for the opposition too, having been fouled 2.8 times per game on average.
Oriol Romeu must keep him under wraps
The task on Romeu’s hands could be a game-defining one.
The Spaniard lines up in a defensive-midfield role under Hasenhuttl, where he acts as the shield for what has been a leaky backline – the Saints have conceded the third-most goals in the division this term with 16 concessions in nine games.
Romeu has started all of those games, making 3.9 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per match on average.
If the former Chelsea man can stunt Maddison’s creativity and supply line to the likes of Vardy, then the south coast side could have a chance on Friday.
If he doesn’t, then the former Norwich man looks a good bet to keep up his fine form against an extremely weak defence.