The bizarre decision Ruud van Nistelrooy has made in 85% of his Leicester games – it needs to change 

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Leicester City’s early positive momentum under Ruud van Nistelrooy has quickly unravelled into a difficult period.

A 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday saw Leicester extend their losing streak to five matches in the Premier League as Ruud van Nistelrooy set an unwanted 22-year record.

It could get worse for the Foxes before they return to Premier League action as Leicester are destined for a points deduction for breaching PSR, with their fate set to be decided next week.

Any loss of points at this stage would be detrimental to their survival, an outcome that is out of van Nistelrooy’s hands.

There is however, one thing the Dutchman can control, and that is his decision-making on the pitch, with one statistic highlighting where he’s going wrong.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has brought on a defender in six of his seven matches

Following a win and a draw against West Ham and Brighton in his first two games in charge, van Nistelrooy has since overseen five straight defeats and conceded 13 goals.

Admittedly, Leicester have mostly played sides who are fighting for Europe in each of those losses but some of the decision-making from the manager can’t be excused.

It’s been brought to light that in six of his seven matches, van Nistelrooy has brought on a defensive substitute when chasing the game.

Typically, the former Man United striker has started with a pairing of Conor Coady and Jannik Vestergaard, two defenders who aren’t the quickest off the ground.

When he tweaks the system for them to go more attacking and pushes an extra full-back forward, van Nistelrooy recognises there is more space left at the back.

To counteract this problem, he normally brings either Coady or Vestergaard off for Wout Faes or Caleb Okoli, recently explaining this decision via Leicestershire Live.

“It depends on what the game needs,” the Dutchman said. “With the characteristics of Wout, when you’re chasing a game like against Brighton, we put both full-backs forward and Wout is somebody who can handle defending those spaces very well and to build up with two instead of three.

“When we have to defend a result, there’s the option of bringing on an extra centre-back. That’s also a good option.”

• READ MORE: Ruud van Nistelrooy reveals ‘conversations’ he had about PSR before signing Leicester City contract

Ruud van Nistelrooy needs to sign a quick centre-back

It isn’t right that van Nistelrooy has to withdraw one of his centre-backs for another when he’s chasing the game, and he shouldn’t have to waste a substitution like that.

Perhaps it shows that he doesn’t trust Faes or Okoli enough to start but as they’re slightly quicker than Coady and Vestergaard, he prefers to use them from the bench.

Leicester must use this issue as motivation to sign a defender who possesses the recovery pace and can cover the ground much quicker.

Ben Godfrey was linked with the Foxes, although he’s now signed for relegation rivals Ipswich Town, capturing Godfrey on loan from Atalanta.

Now, Leicester must move on to other targets and execute their business superbly this month to survive in the top flight.