Leicester City coach explains why Ndidi slotted in at CB after Evans' injury vs Newcastle

Wilfred Ndidi helped Leicester City keep their first clean sheet since the opening day of the season as the Foxes thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

Youri Tielemans from the spot gave Leicester the lead before the interval, while Patson Daka, Tielemans and James Maddison found the net in the second half.

When Jonny Evans was forced to withdraw in the fifth minute after suffering an injury, Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers resisted the urge to hand a Premier League debut to one of the two young defenders named on the substitutes bench.

The Northern Irishman made a tactical switch by bringing on Boubakary Soumaré to replace Ndidi in the holding midfield position, with the Nigeria international moving to the central defence.

Rodgers explained that Ndidi moving to the central defence was to nullify the threat posed by Callum Wilson - a test he passed with flying colours as the Newcastle United number 9 fired blanks in ninety minutes of action.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rodgers explained : "I’m always open to playing young players, but I felt we needed that speed at the back.

"With Callum Wilson, he’s so fast, he’s so direct, so we need to have that speed on both sides in order to be able to cope with that.

"Wilf, going back in there, even though he hasn’t played it so much, I know he’s a player who gives everything in that position and he’s dominant in the air. And it gives Bouba the chance to come in.

"Wilf was exceptional when he came in and Bouba did a good job filling in in midfield."

Ndidi initially started his career as a central defender before he was converted into a defensive midfielder at Racing Genk.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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