Fansided

10 players with the most to prove

By James Dudko

PASADENA, CA - JULY 25: Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United takes a penalty during a penalty shoot-out during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Rose Bowl on July 25, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JULY 25: Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United takes a penalty during a penalty shoot-out during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Rose Bowl on July 25, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) /
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VILLACH, AUSTRIA – July 25: Fousseni Diabate of Leicester City during the pre-season friendly match between Leicester City and Akhisarspor at Stadion Villach on July 25th, 2018 in Villach, Austria. (Photo by Plumb Images/Getty Images)
VILLACH, AUSTRIA – July 25: Fousseni Diabate of Leicester City during the pre-season friendly match between Leicester City and Akhisarspor at Stadion Villach on July 25th, 2018 in Villach, Austria. (Photo by Plumb Images/Getty Images) /

9. Fousseni Diabate, Leicester

When Leicester sold Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City, the Foxes offloaded the player most responsible for their dramatic title win in 2016. Sorry, N’Golo Kante, but Mahrez was the man. His creativity and skill gave Leicester the cutting edge to win matches.

Those are the same qualities Fousseni Diabate must prove he can replicate. The 22-year-old Mali forward surprised many with his quality after he arrived from Ajaccio back in January.

Even so, a few memorable moments in the FA Cup and the odd cameo in England’s top flight isn’t much of a proving ground for a player expected to be Mahrez mark II.

He may not have the experience, but Diabate does have the pace and dribbling skills to tie defenders in knots. Mahrez used the same things to make his name before finding his eye for a pass.

Vardy won’t have the chances he needs to keep Leicester in the goals if Diabate can’t find his.