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By Ebenezer Bajela.
Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho has been named in the Premier League Team of The Week for match-day 22 following an impressive performance that saw struggling Leicester City came from behind to defeat Aston Villa away from home.
Iheanacho was the major catalyst as the Foxes claimed a dramatic 4-2 win at the Villa Park on Saturday.
The Nigerian was handed a rare start in the starting XI by Brendan Rodgers and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
The 26-year-old scored a goal and two assists to help Leicester, who went into the game with only a goal difference keeping them outside the Premier League relegation zone, temporarily move away from the drop zone to 14th on the log.
In his EPL Team of The Week with a 3-4-3 formation, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer selected Iheanacho alongside Tottenham Hotspur’s record-breaking striker Harry Kane and Brentford’s Cameroon World Cup star Bryan Mbeumo.
Justifying his selection of the Nigerian, the retired English footballer turned pundit said, “(Iheanacho) marked his first start since September with a goal and two assists.”
In goal, Shearer picked Keylor Navas, who recently joined Nottingham Forest on loan from Paris Saint-Germain after helping the newly promoted side claim a vital 1-0 win over Leeds United, keeping a clean sheet in the process.
His defence comprises Brentford’s Benjamin Mee, Fulham’s Timothy Ream and James Tarkowski, who scored the only goal that saw Everton beat Arsenal on Saturday.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg of Tottenham Hotspurs, West Ham’s Declan Rice, Wolves’ Ruben Neves and Everton’s Amadou Onana make up the pack in the midfield.
The selection in the Premier League Team of The Week is the second recognition for the former Manchester City player, who was also named in Whoscored.com’s Best XI.
Iheanacho has directly participated in seven goals (4 goals, three assists) in his 21 all-competition appearances for Leicester City this season.