“I’m worried, fans are baffled as to why Mavididi isn’t getting a look-in, he was brilliant in the Championship and both times he’s come on in games this season, he’s made a real difference”-Gary Lineker questions Steve Cooper’s decision to snub winger as he says club signed players that are not needed this summer

Steve Cooper has undergone a difficult start to life as manager of Leicester City with one point from three games in the Premier League.

In truth, Steve Cooper started his reign as Leicester City manager on the back foot. Add that to Cooper’s affiliation with rivals Nottingham Forest and you can see that the Welshman had his work cut out from the get go to be a success at Leicester.

However, Cooper is not one to shirk a challenge and will look to earn the love of the Leicester fanbase by steering their club to Premier League safety in the face of financial worries and a possible points deduction.

A somewhat lucky opening day draw with Tottenham Hotspur has been followed up with narrow 2-1 defeats to both Fulham and Aston Villa; with a 4-0 win over Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup a welcome first competitive win for Cooper.

Gary Lineker is perhaps Leicester’s most famous son and the Match of the Day presenter has been talking about the club’s start to the season on The Rest is Football podcast in which he was joined by Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.

In the latest episode published on Monday morning, Lineker voiced his concerns about his club as he said: “Leicester have only got one point, a slightly fortuitous one against Tottenham. I’m slightly worried as a Leicester fan.”

Lineker went on to explain that he does not rate the Foxes’ summer business, before questioning the lack of involvement of one of last season’s star players in Stephy Mavididi under Cooper so far, saying: “They’ve bought a few players in the market but not really the players that are probably needed.

“I think most Leicester fans are slightly baffled as to why Mavididi isn’t getting a look-in on the left hand side, he was brilliant in the Championship.

“And actually both times he’s come on in the games this season, he’s made a real difference so hopefully he’ll get a start.”

Cooper has brought in both Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew who can operate in wide areas, whilst Abdul Fatawu’s loan from last season was made permanent this summer. Whilst it is understandable that Cooper may favour the players he has brought in, it seems a strange decision not to play Mavididi.

The winger was one of Leicester’s best players in the Championship last season, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists as he was a constant threat down the left. With Leicester lacking a spark so far this season, it is a surprise that Mavididi has not yet started a Premier League game, particularly as he has looked bright off the bench as Lineker rightly pointed out.

Perhaps we will see this change after the international break, but Cooper is not known for being a manager who bows to public opinion.