Premier League champions Leicester host Manchester United on Sunday (4pm kick-off) in desperate need of a win to move away from the relegation zone.

Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes have struggled in their title defence this term, having won just five of their 23 matches, and sitting two points above the bottom three.

A 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Tuesday night was their 12th loss of the campaign, and ninth on the road out of 12 matches.

Nonetheless, they have been decent at home this season, winning five of their 11 games, and losing just three to West Brom, Everton, and current leaders Chelsea.

Yet, they won’t find it easy against a Manchester United side who are also in need of the points, as Jose Mourinho’s men currently sit sixth in the table and four points adrift of the top four.

The Red Devils couldn’t break a stubborn Hull defence down on Wednesday night to prevent a ninth draw of the campaign, so they’ll be going all out to get the three points on Sunday.

Having played on Tuesday, Ranieri may be tempted into some changes against the Red Devils, so here are THREE players who deserve a chance on Sunday…

Ben Chilwell

Leicester have conceded 38 goals already this season, which is two more than they conceded in the entirety of last season’s title-winning campaign.

And when the back four is the same now as it was last time round, there’s clearly a problem, and one Ranieri should counter by bringing youngster Ben Chilwell into the side.

The England Under-21 international has started just three Premier League games this season, although all three have been in the last six weeks, which suggests that Ranieri thinks he’s ready to make the step up to the first team.

Solid efforts in the FA Cup against Everton and then Derby further demonstrate Chilwell’s defensive capabilities, so he should get a shot against United on Sunday.

Andy King

Leicester haven’t been dominating midfields this season in the same way they did last term.

A lot of that is because N’Golo Kante is not at the football club anymore, but some is down to the under-performing central midfielders currently at the King Power Stadium.

And, given that Andy King was an unused substitute against Burnley on Tuesday, he deserves a shot in the middle against United.

The 28-year-old has started 11 of their 23 Premier League games this season, and in his last one against Middlesbrough, he produced a man-of-the-match display to help the Foxes secure a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium.

His fresh legs and energy may give Leicester what they need in the middle against United, so King should be given an opportunity on Sunday.

Shinji Okazaki

With Islam Slimani a doubt and Jamie Vardy having not scored in 2017, Ranieri could give Shinji Okazaki a chance to end a long scoring drought of his own against United.

The Japanese forward has failed to net in any of his last ten appearances for Leicester, albeit only five of those have been starts.

Nonetheless, his relentless energy and work-rate may be what Ranieri wants from his forwards on Sunday, especially as United will likely have more of the ball, so it’ll be up to the forward players to lead from the front by closing down and pressing the United backline.

There aren’t many better at doing that than Okazaki, so a partnership with the equally-energetic Vardy may be ideal for the Foxes on Sunday.