Leicester City manager Russell Martin is considering dropping goalkeeper Alex McCarthy for Jakub Stolarczyk after taking just one point from six available. Defensive errors against Burton Albion and Notts County have forced Martin to review his lineup options ahead of midweek fixtures.
The Foxes have endured a nightmare start to their league campaign. Following a chaotic opening display at Meadow Lane, Leicester capitulated 2-1 at home to Burton Albion. Caleb Okoli allowed a routine ball to bounce, while Oliver Skipp saw red in a disastrous first half. McCarthy then let a weak strike from Kegs Chauke squirm through him at the near post.
At Meadow Lane, McCarthy caused panic by rushing out for a throw-in, nearly gifting County a goal before the crossbar intervened. With Leicester allowing 13 shots per game, shot-stopping reliability has become paramount. Stolarczyk, who lost his starting spot despite solid pre-season progress, now stands ready to reclaim the jersey.
Martin had previously made his stance clear regarding squad competition. He stated: “This thing of captains in football, it’s the same as goalkeepers, there is no set number one.Someone has the shirt now but you can lose it, the same way the right-back can and the same way the left-back can. So it’s the same as a captain, you have to always lead by example and perform. If not, it might go to someone else.”
With MK Dons looming, Martin confirmed that selection changes are coming. “I expect some people to come into the team and be really hungry to stake a claim for the shirt, because after today, there will be opportunities, of course,” he conceded. Demanding a rapid response from his squad, he added: “I expect the guys that played today, that are playing Tuesday, to really want to put things right and feel better about themselves than they do today.”
Leicester cannot afford any more defensive white flags. Midweek action offers Stolarczyk the ultimate chance to force a U-turn and solve Martin’s escalating goalkeeping crisis.
