After almost a month off, the F1 title race resumes with the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday.
East Midlands rivals Leicester City and Nottingham Forest meet on Friday evening (20.00) with both clubs eager to maintain their solid start to the season.
Forest have surprised plenty by picking up three wins and four draws among their first eight matches, while the Foxes, too, have enjoyed themselves at times in the early weeks of the campaign, amassing nine points so far.
Forest saw off Crystal Palace on Monday 1-0 and it's a swift turnaround for Nuno Espirito Santo's men when they face off against former Tricky Trees' boss Steve Cooper at the King Power Stadium.
- DRAW
- ABDUL FATAWU TO SCORE ANYTIME
- RYAN YATES TO BE BOOKED
Bet On The Premier League
Little To Separate Old Rivals
With both clubs tipped to be in the relegation scrap this season before a ball was kicked, Leicester and Forest have, so far at least, defied expectations to sit well clear of the bottom three.
While it remains early days and getting dragged into the mire towards the bottom of the table is still a distinct possibility as the campaign progresses, at least the two East Midlands outfits have given themselves a decent base to build on.
Forest have arguably been the surprise package of the whole league so far, picking up 13 points from their first eight games to sit up as high as eighth. The Foxes, too, have had a more than satisfactory start, as Cooper’s men are 14th with nine points on the board.
Forest have been superbly well organised on their travels, beating Liverpool and Southampton, while picking up draws at Brighton and Chelsea, and they will again likely prove very difficult to break down on Friday.
The Foxes have won their last two games, though, beating Bournemouth 1-0 at home before a storming second-half comeback saw them turn things around at Southampton, eventually winning late on 3-2.
Both managers would probably settle for a point and an evenly-contested derby may well be the outcome at the King Power Stadium.
DRAW
Fatawu Can Make Big Impact Again
Leicester fans have been pleading with Cooper to hand more starts to exciting winger Abdul Fatawu, who has only been limited to fleeting substitute appearances in recent weeks.
The Ghanaian came on for the final half-hour against Southampton and helped turn the game in Leicester’s favour with a performance full of guile, speed and trickery down the right wing, grabbing an assist in the 3-2 comeback victory.
He must be in Cooper’s plans for Friday and if he does start it would not be a surprise to see him involved heavily in the final third. Surely a first Premier League goal must arrive soon for the talented 20-year-old.
ABDUL FATAWU TO SCORE ANYTIME
Yates Running Yellow Card Risk
Ryan Yates has been one of Forest’s stand-out performers in recent weeks as his midfield work-rate has helped Nuno’s side pick up some eye-catching results.
However, the 26-year-old has been guilty of giving away plenty of fouls in the engine room, and he is likely to again be involved in the cut-and-thrust of the action when his side go to Leicester.
Yates has already been booked twice this term and he has conceded 11 fouls in the league, with only Morgan Gibbs-White (13) in the Forest squad giving away more.
RYAN YATES TO BE BOOKED
