Under-23s Preview: Leicester City vs. Manchester United

Leicester City’s Development Squad host Manchester United at King Power Stadium on Monday night knowing a victory could see them climb as many as five places in the Premier League 2 standings. 

It will have been almost a month since City’s last competitive fixture when the Red Devils arrive on Filbert Way but Steve Beaglehole’s men are nonetheless on a four-match unbeaten run in all competitions following a hard-fought at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 12 March. 

The Foxes have used the break from league action to enjoy trips to both Northern Ireland and Jersey in recent weeks as Beaglehole prepares his side for the final four fixtures of the campaign. On Wednesday, Hamza Choudhury, Raul Uche and Alex Pascanu scored in a 3-0 victory over Jersey. 

After this encounter with United, Liverpool are City’s opponents at Holmes Park in Whetstone before a against Reading and Tottenham Hotspur at the Madejski Stadium and White Hart Lane respectively. 

A brilliant at Holmes Park back in February - courtesy of goals from Josh Knight and Layton Ndukwu - was typical of City's recent upturn in fortunes and was followed by three successive draws with Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Sunderland. 

Steve Beaglehole and Ben Petty have had plenty of time to work on the training pitch over the course of the last month ahead of what promises to be a thrilling final act in a season already littered with memorable moments. Speaking after the success in Jersey, Beaglehole said: “I thought it was a great exercise for us.

With one win in five, Manchester United find themselves in the unfamiliar surroundings of a relegation battle in Premier League 2. Nicky Butt’s men know that if they suffer defeat at King Power Stadium, they will go level on points with Leicester City with just three matches remaining. 

It’s a far cry from last season for the North West outfit. United were utterly dominant as they won the Division 1 crown by five points, suffering just four defeats all year, but the new Premier League 2 set-up has proven to be a tougher setting for Butt’s side this time around. They are, though, now unbeaten in two matches after a run of four losses in all competitions. 

However, Ryan Seager’s late equaliser for Southampton at Old Trafford last month, to secure a 3-3 draw, was another difficult result for the hosts to take. Despite that, City will be under no illusions of the task at hand when they come up against a strong United line-up who defeated them at the Leigh Sports Village in August. 

Following a morale-boosting win at Jersey on Wednesday, Under-23s manager Steve Beaglehole said: “The opposition were very strong, they were aggressive and organised. So it’s been a great test for us and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time here. 

“I know what it’s like. The players have to do it right. If you don’t do that, a fixture like this is a banana skin. We were expected to win and we have won but it wasn’t easy. We got the break with the penalty and that took the wind out of the sails of Jersey.” 

Despite United’s mixed form in recent weeks, one player who continues to impress many at Old Trafford is Matty Willock. The 18-year-old central midfielder was named among Jose Mourinho’s substitutes for the Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion last month as reward for his efforts. 

Having joined United back in 2012, Willock was instrumental for Warren Joyce as the Under-21s lifted the title last season. He has further endeared himself to the supporters in the North West with goals against rivals Manchester City and Liverpool in Premier League 2 so far this season. 

As a result, City’s midfield will have to be alert to his dangers with him earning a reputation as a player liable to run through the middle and shoot at the earliest opportunity.