Choudhury’s Joy At Successful Defensive Role

- Hamza Choudhury says his defensive attributes helped him impress in a centre-back role against Watford on Saturday
- The Academy graduate delivered an excellent performance in the 4-1 Emirates FA Cup win
- Choudhury was informed by manager Brendan Rodgers on Friday that he would be playing out of position
- The City midfielder embraced the opportunity and was lauded at full-time

The Foxes were light on defensive options heading into their Emirates FA Cup Third Round tie, but it was Academy graduate Choudhury, usually a regular in central midfield, who operated alongside Jannik Vestergaard in the heart of a back four.

Choudhury is known as a dynamic midfielder, one that can recover possession of the ball against the toughest of opponents, however his deeper position against Claudio Ranieri’s men was one that he shone in.

His display in the 4-1 success, which came courtesy of goals from Youri Tielemans, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Marc Albrighton, earned great praise from those within the City camp, and the Blue Army that watched on.

“It was different, but we work hard in training and I’ve played there a few times in training,” Choudhury told LCFC TV. “The gaffer (Brendan Rodgers) rang me last night (Friday) just to let me know, and said: ‘You’ve done it in training, just go out and do what you do in training and enjoy it’. It was different, but I enjoyed it.

“Like we showed today against a Premier League side, we’re still a very strong team no matter who we put out there.

“As a midfielder, it’s probably more of our natural instinct to read where the second balls are going to drop and where their midfielders are looking to play passes.

“It probably suits me going back there and trying to read the game and anticipate where they’re going to play the ball. I enjoy playing. Every opportunity I get, I go out there and do my best for the team.”