Leicester City changes expected after Gary Rowett hints at fitness 'struggles'

CommentsSportJordan Blackwell12:09, 09 Mar 2026Updated 12:33, 09 Mar 2026Gary Rowett is planning changes across the Leicester City line-up this week after learning the squad struggle to keep up their energy for three games in a week.

Rowett said he prefers not to make changes, instead selecting a consistent 11, but acknowledges that he must do so at City to ensure performance levels do not drop.

The manager felt City were fatigued during the defeat to Norwich on his home debut because they had been sapped by the two away games at Stoke and Middlesbrough over the previous seven days.

With City preparing to face Bristol City on Tuesday night in the second game of another three-match week, Rowett hinted at rotation.

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Discussing the fitness of captain Ricardo Pereira, who was left out of midweek fixtures under former manager Marti Cifuentes, Rowett said: “I spoke with Ric before the Middlesbrough game. I was aware of that. He wanted to put himself out there.

“All of the players against Norwich, we just didn’t quite have that energy on the back of a big week and two away games.

“That’s something I have learned about the squad, that maybe we struggle to go three games in a week with the same team.

“I don’t like changing a team but maybe I have to get the energy and to get what we need out of a game.

“Ric’s an experienced player, he’s our captain, he’s so important to us, but it’s the same with anybody: can we go with the same energy? We’ll make those decisions along the way.

“I like the fact people want to put themselves out there. I think that’s really important.”

Rowett has previously hinted at selecting a more attacking team for home matches, and so Jordan James and Divine Mukasa are strong contenders to come into the side to take on Bristol City.

And while Rowett does not typically like changing his defence, he may tweak things there too after City’s run without a Championship clean sheet hit 30 games. Jamaal Lascelles could start on Tuesday night.

Rowett said: “When you’re in this position and you haven’t kept a clean sheet for a while, you’re looking at those experienced centre-halves being available.

“You’re looking at whether we need to tweak one or two things, because we can’t wait. We have to go and get clean sheets.

“But I thought the defenders defended really well (at Ipswich). Luke (Thomas) was on a yellow card early and defended brilliantly. I thought the two centre-halves were fantastic. Ric had his hands full with two players on that side at times. But I thought they defended diligently.

“It’s an area that ideally you want to keep the same but I think we’re going to have to make some changes in all parts of the team to get the results we want.”

Predicted City line-up (4-2-3-1): Stolarczyk; Choudhury, Lascelles, Nelson, Thomas; Winks, Skipp; Fatawu, Mukasa, James; Daka.

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