What should Sheffield Wednesday expect from Leicester City? Will Jamie Vardy play? We asked an expert

Sheffield Wednesday’s pre-season preparations will jump up a few notches on Saturday when they face Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City in a behind-closed doors clash at Loughborough University.
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The Owls have been down there on a training camp for five days and will take on the Premier League side at midday in a match that will be streamed live, completely free of charge, on YouTube.

But what should Wednesday expect from Leicester and where are the Foxes up to in their pre-season preparations? We spoke to BBC Radio Leicester lead commentatorIan Stringer to get the inside track.

What have Leicester been upto?

Brendan Rodgers will face up against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday - but will Jamie Vardy?Brendan Rodgers will face up against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday - but will Jamie Vardy?
Brendan Rodgers will face up against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday - but will Jamie Vardy?
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They played against Birmingham City earlier in the week, in a behind-closed-doors game at Birmingham’s training ground. They won 2-0 and Rodgers rotated, he played a few younger players. It was the first game of pre-season so it was just about getting some fitness in the legs, really.

They haven’t been away on a camp or anything, they’ve been based at the club’s training ground and have stayed in Leicester.

What sort of side will they have out? Will Jamie Vardy play?

Possibly. Rodgers will want to get as much out of it as possible and as much pitch time for as many of the players as he possibly can. The Premier League season is only two weeks away so he’ll want to get a good look if he can but he’ll also be managing a loan on a lot of the players as well.

There’s a possibility Vardy will play but I know he’s spent a bit of time in Ibiza so I’m not too sure what his access will be and what stage he’s at at the moment.

What about George Hirst?

He played up front in the game at Birmingham.

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He was trusted towards the end of that Project Restart period and he came on in the last game of the season. I’ve barely seen him.

We all know he’s got talent and Brendan Rodgers is a manager that has a history of giving opportunities to younger players. George Hirst is someone still considered one of those younger players.

How are they shaping up generally?

They haven’t signed anybody as yet, they sold Ben Chilwell for £50m (to Chelsea) and I imagine they’ll reinvest in the playing staff at some stage.

That said, they’ve just spent £100m on a new training ground, so there is significant investment in the club, but not quite in the playing squad.

And what does a good season look like for Leicester this time out?

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We’ve not yet spoken to the manager, so we haven’t really been given an indication of what success would look like across all the competitions they’re in.

They are in the Europa League this year and will want a good run in that, the fact is that the Premier League is a different beast this time out.

I think they’ll go as deep as they can in the Europa League but I do think the league will be difficult this season. That investment hasn’t been there, though there is still time, and the league is going to be more difficult. It’s a harder league this season.

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