Leicester City vs Manchester United. FA Community Shield.
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Sunday 7 August 2016 16:03, UK
Jamie Vardy could be fit for champions Leicester as they take on Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
The traditional start-of-season showpiece pits the FA Cup holders against the Foxes' heroes, with Jose Mourinho out to make a statement of intent as he looks to reinvigorate United.
The 20-time top flight champions have bolstered their squad considerably in the summer, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic the capture that has attracted all the attention.
Pre-season was disrupted by postponements in China, and results on the pitch have been mixed, with a 4-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund a low point.
With fewer games than expected, Mourinho admitted he will use Sunday's encounter to give some players who are short of match practice some valuable minutes.
"We can make six substitutions instead of three, so that gives me the chance to give minutes to people," Mourinho said. "It also gives me the chance to play some players I know can't play 90 minutes, as they have no condition to play for 90 minutes."
The doubters have been circling for most of the summer, but Claudio Ranieri refuses to let such talk of Leicester not being able to handle the heat at the top get to his side, and is relishing the chance to take on a stronger-looking United on Sunday.
"I forgot what happened last season," Ranieri said. "Now my focus is on the new season. We're ambitious but know it will be very hard."
"This is not a friendly. We will give the maximum and also Manchester United will too. Both teams want to win it."
While the loss of N'Golo Kante was a blow, keeping hold of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez will give fans a boost, and club-record signing Ahmed Musa looks to be in fine fettle ahead of the new season, with his stunning solo effort against Barcelona in their 4-2 friendly defeat getting Foxes fans fired up and ready to go.
Team news
Vardy faces a late fitness test ahead of Sunday's encounter. The England forward got through 45 minutes against Barcelona unscathed, and Ranieri revealed that he has been training well since. Otherwise, Ranieri has a full squad to choose from.
Mourinho has plenty of attacking options to chose from, but is likely to go with Ibrahimovic as the focal point of the attack, with Wayne Rooney just behind.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah is a long-term absentee with a calf injury, but Chris Smalling could play some part after working his way back to fitness from a muscular setback.
Bastian Schweinsteiger will almost certainly miss out, as he doesn't appear to be in Mourinho's plans, and is training on his own.
Opta stats
This is Leicester City's first appearance in the Community Shield since 1971/72, in which they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Filbert Street. The Foxes were winners of the second division the season before.
This will be Manchester United's 30th appearance in the Community Shield. They've won the trophy on 20 previous occasions, a record figure (16 outright wins and four shared titles).
The Red Devils have won the Community Shield in five of their last six appearances (2007/08 and 2008/09 on penalties, 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2013/14).
Leicester's last trip to Wembley saw them win the League Cup in February 2000, beating Tranmere 2-1.
United have won their last four games at Wembley since losing the 2011 Champions League final there to Barcelona.
The only Wembley match between Leicester and Manchester United previously was the FA Cup Final in 1963, in which the Red Devils ran out 3-1 winners.
Jamie Vardy has scored once and assisted another goal in three games for England at Wembley Stadium.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has only played at Wembley once before; losing 0-1 against England for Sweden in November 2011
