Burton v Leicester predictions and odds: Foxes should maintain strong start

Where to watch Burton v Leicester

Sky Sports Football & Main Event 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Leicester to win & under 4.5 goals
1pt Evs Hills

Burton v Leicester odds

Burton 9-2
Leicester 3-5
Draw 7-2

Odds correct at time of publishing

Burton v Leicester team news

Burton
Attacker Josh Walker is expected to miss a month of action after sustaining a hip injury in pre-season.

Leicester
Foxes boss Enzo Maresca is expected to make wholesale changes to the side who beat Coventry on Sunday but Conor Coady (foot) remains sidelined.

Burton v Leicester predictions

Leicester returned to the Championship with a hard-fought 2-1 success at home to Coventry and they can continue their positive start to the season with victory over League One Burton in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Achieving an immediate return to the Premier League is undoubtedly the Foxes' aim this season, so it would be wise to expect wholesale changes from the line-up which started against the Sky Blues on Sunday.

However, even a largely second-string Leicester side ought to have far too much quality for the third-tier Brewers, who are bidding to respond after losing 2-0 at Blackpool on the opening weekend.

The final few weeks of the transfer window could be a nervous time for Leicester head coach Enzo Maresca, who will be anxious not to lose many more first-choice players.

Leicester have already lost top-flight stars James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Jonny Evans and Harvey Barnes over the summer but they still have a group which would be the envy of the majority of clubs in the Championship.

High-profile attackers Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka started on the bench against Coventry at the weekend and both should fancy their chances of making an impact against Burton if given the nod to start.

Burton are going to have their hands full and their manager Dino Maamria will be asking for greater concentration and focus after his team were undone by two goals in the opening 25 minutes of Saturday's loss to Blackpool.

Maamria has done a sterling job for the Brewers, who climbed from rock-bottom to 15th after his appointment as manager last September, but his efforts to reshape the squad, which have included 11 summer signings, may result in his side needing to take one step back before making further strides forward.

Burton should get better as the season progresses but they didn't enjoy much amusement on their trip to Blackpool at the weekend and further disappointment should await them on Wednesday evening.

Key stat

Leicester have won four of their last five away games in domestic cup competitions.

Probable teams

Burton (3-4-2-1): Blackman; Brayford, Hughes, Moon; Hamer, Powell, Harper, Seddon; Helm, Gordon; Stockton.
Subs: Crocombe, Oshilaja, Kamwa, Caprice, Chauke, Carayol, Sweeney.

Leicester (4-3-3): Hermansen; Justin, Souttar, Vestergaard, Castagne; Ndidi, Choudhury, Praet; Daka, Iheanacho, Albrighton.
Subs: Pereira, Faes, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall, McAteer, Vardy, Mavididi.

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport