Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will be deprived of the banned Jordan Ayew for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.

The experienced attacker broke the deadlock in the 3-1 loss to Liverpool on Boxing Day, but he was then booked for the fifth time this season, incurring a one-game ban in the process.

However, as one striker watches on helplessly, another might return to the final third, as Jamie Vardy could be back in the ranks after missing the Liverpool defeat with a knock.

The 37-year-old has more goals than any other player in this head-to-head - nine across all competitions - and he should take Patson Daka's place in the offensive line if fit enough.

Bobby Decordova-Reid is the most natural replacement for Ayew out wide, and the quick turnaround could also tempt Van Nistelrooy into making a straight swap in the number 10 role, Facundo Buonanotte for Bilal El Khannouss.

Harry Winks and Boubakary Soumare should reprise their midfield partnership, though, and a lack of other full-back options means no respite for James Justin or Victor Kristiansen either.

Jakub Stolarczyk should also continue in between the posts with Mads Hermansen nursing a groin concern, but Caleb Okoli could provide a fresh pair of legs in defence over Conor Coady.

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Stolarczyk; Justin, Okoli, Vestergaard, Kristiansen; Winks, Soumare; Decordova-Reid, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Vardy

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