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By Anthony Nlebem.
Despite Brendan Rodgers not giving Kelechi Iheanacho regular playing time, the Nigeria international has often found a way to prove himself each time he gets the opportunity to make Leicester City’s starting XI.
As one of the Premier League’s most promising youngsters, Iheanacho made a switch from Manchester City to the King Power Stadium for £25m in 2017.
Afterwards, he has registered a respectable 78 goals and 44 assists in 266 appearances for the Foxes across all competitions.
Iheanacho also played a pivotal part in Leicester’s FA Cup success back in 2020/21, finding the back of the net on four occasions in his six games in the competition, as they saw off favourites Chelsea in the final.
However, the technically gifted star has never started more than 16 Premier League games in a single season for the Foxes, often playing second fiddle to English striker Jamie Vardy.
Iheanacho has still only featured from the off twice in the topflight in the current campaign.
British football Journalist, Dean Jones, believes Rodgers has not treated Iheanacho fairly despite the Nigerian bailing the manager at critical moments.
“I think the way he has been used throughout his time at the club has been bemusing, really, ” Jones said in an interview with GMS.
“You think back with Iheanacho and when he was being compared with (Marcus) Rashford when they both broke through and what he seemed capable of.
“There was always the constant debate of Iheanacho at City, Rashford at United and who would be the better player.
“Obviously, Iheanacho’s fallen way behind Rashford in recent times, but you still see these flashes where you think he can get back up there.”
Iheanacho has started five times this season and he’s scored in all five of them, and has scored four goals and contributed three assists in his last six Premier League appearances for the Foxes.
The Foxes getting better results with Iheanacho is evident, as they have not lost in their last three Premier League games.
Leicester are now 13th on the Premier League table, a safe zone, thanks to Iheanacho’s contributions.
Two seasons consecutively, Rodgers seem to deploy Iheanacho when his job is on the line and then wheels h.back to the bench once he gets out of trouble.
Following his sterling performance, the Nigerian ranks among the Premier League’s stars, with the striker’s goal against Tottenham last Saturday further proving that he deserves a starting role.
Iheanacho scored his 40th Premier League goal for Leicester City as they came from behind to win for the second time in a row, thrashing a dreadful Tottenham Hotspurs side 4-1 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
It was his third EPL goal of the season in 16 appearances (28th in 138 EPL games for Leicester since he joined from Man City in August 2017) and his fourth against Tottenham in 11 matches.
Popularly called Senior Man, the Nigerian netted the Foxes’ third goal in a shock 4-1 win against the North London side.
Iheanacho also assisted James Maddison beforehand and is now on 40 goals and 27 assists in the Premier League.
As a result, he joins some of the game’s greats on an exclusive list of players with some of the best returns in the English topflight.
Iheanacho sits 10th for the number of minutes per goal or assist for players with 150 or more appearances in the league.
He has averaged 112 minutes of contribution during his time at Leicester and Manchester City, just two behind Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.
He now has 82 goals contributions in all competitions for Leicester since he joined from City six seasons ago.
His goal against Spurs has taken him to five for the season in all competitions, and his assist for Maddison was his fourth of the campaign.
The result has also steered Rodgers’ side six points clear of the relegation zone, a vast improvement from the previous few months.
Also, the U-17 World Cup winner, is the highest-scoring African in FA Cup history with 17 goals in 23 appearances ahead of Didier Drogba (12 goals in 29 appearances) and Yakubu Aiyegbeni (10 goals in 24 matches).
Ahead their Premier League clash against high-flying Manchester United, Rodgers is delighted with Iheanacho’s recent form.
“With Kelechi and his skill set, it’s always about having the right players around him,” the manager told BBC.
“He’s at a prime age, he’s always a threat, his touch is good. When he’s right in his game, he’s a top-class striker.”
On his side’s recent good away form, Rodgers added, “We know that travelling, we can go out and play without any fear. We’re the second-highest scorers away from home in the league so we know we can go out and score goals.”
If he gets the starting nod at Old Trafford, the Super Eagles striker will be up against a familiar foe. The 26-year-old has netted four goals and three assists against the Red Devil’s in 11 appearances. He’s been on the winning side four times with five defeats and two draws against the English giants.