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By Abiodun Adewale.
Former Premier League strikers, Michael Owen and Darren Bent, have thrown their weight behind Super Eagles and Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, to lead the line of the Foxes given Jammie Vardy’s ageing, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian has been primed to get more game time under manager Brendan Rodgers as Leicester continue their quest for survival, and both Owen and Bent feel Iheanacho can become the next talisman for the foxes after Vardy.
Vardy, 36, has 134 goals in 196 appearances for Leicester but he seems to have slowed down this season, scoring only one in 22 appearances.
Rodger has however overlooked the Nigerian in his starting line-up this season but Iheanacho has managed to prove his worth on three of the occasions he started a game, notching three goals as well.
His numbers still dwarf other Leicester regulars which makes Owen and Bent think he deserves to start more games.
“I think he is very single-minded, and this is a compliment, but he is also selfish in front of goal. He strikes me as a real goal scorer. His last couple of goals he’s been scoring and creating plenty of chances but he’s not always a first choice,” Owen said on Premier League TV.
“When you look at his numbers, it suggests that he should play more. I think if he’s given more opportunities he will score more goals. I think he’s not just a goal scorer with the assists he has. He will do the unselfish run in front of goal and he is so calm,” Bent added.
With 52 goals and 32 assists in 194 games for Leicester, Bent strongly believes he could be the next goal poacher for the foxes in the absence of Vardy.
“I think he can do that, but he must be given game time. We have seen a small sample in the few games he’s started, yet that is not enough to tell us what he can do consistently for Leicester’s season. We know how good Jammie Vardy has been so to replace his numbers will be pretty hard but I think he can do it if give enough game time,” Bent said.