Sunday 24 April 2016 16:15, UK
Jamie Vardy's red card against West Ham means Leicester's top scorer will be missing for the home clash with Swansea on Super Sunday and is facing a misconduct charge that could keep him out for longer. So how will the Foxes cope without their talismanic striker?
It's a problem Claudio Ranieri hasn't faced in the Premier League this season. Vardy has started each and every one of Leicester's 34 fixtures, scoring 22 goals - the joint-most in the division.
In fact, Vardy has missed just three games of Leicester's campaign across all competitions: Capital One Cup wins over Bury and West Ham (after extra-time) and a 2-2 FA Cup draw with Tottenham.
Vardy was also missing from the starting line-up for two other fixtures, but stepped off the bench to make substitute appearances in the penalty shoot-out Capital One Cup loss at Hull City and the 2-0 FA Cup replay defeat to Spurs.
In the Premier League, the England forward has been one of the first names on Ranieri's team sheet. So what are his options now? We take a look…
Shinji Okazaki
A near certainty to face Swansea, if fit. The Japan international has started Leicester's last 14 Premier League fixtures up front alongside Vardy and, despite a return of just five goals from 32 top-flight appearances this season, Okazaki has won plaudits for his high work-rate and all-round contribution.
Okazaki did show off his finishing skills with an impressive overhead-kick winner against Newcastle in March and Ranieri was quick to praise the forward after the game. "Shinji works his socks off, week-in, week-out, he deserves something like that," said the Italian. Seemingly only a formation re-think would see him miss out on Sunday.
Leonardo Ulloa
The obvious candidate to partner Okazaki in Vardy's absence. Ulloa has made just five starts for Leicester this season but his 21 substitute appearances demonstrate his importance to the squad - and his ice-cool penalty to equalise in injury time against West Ham proves he has the nerve to perform amid the pressure of a title run-in.
The Argentinian, who scored 11 Premier League goals for Leicester last season after joining from Brighton in 2014, has four strikes and two assists to his name this term and started up front alongside Vardy when Leicester beat Swansea 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Formation switch?
Another option open to Ranieri is a switch to one up front. The manager has predominantly favoured 4-4-2 this season but has, at times, played a lone striker ahead of a midfield five. However, as the Opta touchmap from Leicester's win over Swansea in December shows, the Foxes have effectively operated with three behind a frontman, too.
The approach certainly paid off at the Liberty Stadium, with Leicester running out 3-0 winners. On that occasion Marc Albrighton, Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez were the three players operating behind Vardy. Ranieri could use the same trio behind Okazaki on Sunday.
Alternatively, Ranieri has pacey but inexperienced options in 19-year-old Demarai Gray and 20-year-old Joe Dodoo, who could add even more speed to Leicester's play in those attacking midfield areas.
Gray, a January signing from Birmingham City, has bags of potential and only Vardy clocked a faster top speed against Arsenal in February, while Dodoo has netted four goals in three cup outings for Leicester this season.
Where's Kramaric?
At a time like this, Ranieri would surely like to call on the services of Leicester's club record signing. Frustratingly, the Foxes allowed Andrej Kramaric - a £9m, January 2015 purchase - to join 1899 Hoffenheim on loan in the transfer window.
The Croatian had made just two Premier League appearances under Ranieri but has scored four goals in eight Bundesliga matches since his switch to Germany.
