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Ahmed Musa: Leicester City’s forgotten man may yet turn into one to remember

By Harneet Singh Sethi

VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 22: Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates with teammate Oghenekaro Etebo after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA - JUNE 22: Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates with teammate Oghenekaro Etebo after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Nigeria and Iceland at Volgograd Arena on June 22, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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As Ahmed Musa continues to be linked with a move away from Leicester City, one of the most important questions facing Claude Puel is whether it’s right to let the 25-year old leave.

About a month ago, it would have been a no-brainer for even the most obsequious of the Nigerian’s admirers; however, his display at the FIFA World Cup – notably “that” brace against Iceland – has brought about a change in the scenario as well the fans’ opinion of him. But was the flak ever completely justified? Put laconically, no.

While it’s true that since signing for the Foxes in the summer of 2016, Musa has very rarely been unable to put a foot wrong, no one can deny that the lack of regular chances has played its part. He has only started14 games (33 appearances in total), a clear reflection of the harsh treatment that he has been the subject of.

For a player you’ve invested £17 million in, those numbers are laughable, and they do make you wonder as to why was he bought in the first place. Leicester are not a club with such bloated treasuries that they can afford to let one of their most expensive signings rot on the bench, but it is exactly what they’ve done in the case of Musa. Thankfully, the situation is yet to go beyond a tipping point.

It’s time that someone at the King Power Stadium – preferably Puel – finally tries to work out where has it all gone wrong for Musa, and tries to get him back to his best – the player that we’ve seen in Russia over the years.

There are a fair few number of people who think that it’s impossible to resurrect the Nigeria international’s career at Leicester with the indefatigable Jamie Vardy still going well, but there’s no relation between the two at all.

We are not talking of an Islam Slimani here who can only play as a no.9. We are talking of a versatile, two-footed, pacy forward who is equally as comfortable out wide as he is in a central position – which he has proven over the course of his career. So why not play him on the flank? Even if Leicester sign a replacement for Riyad Mahrez on the right wing, it still leaves them short of a ‘potent option’ on the left, a role that Musa can fill with ease.

His record at the club may not necessarily make his case as a goalscoring threat any stronger, but that’s only because of an inexplicable reluctance to play him, not a lack of ability. If you think otherwise, you’ve read too much into a stay made disastrous by wasteful management.

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Despite two years of this persistent profligacy, this tireless parsimony, though, there’s time for Leicester to make amends. Having given a fine, little demonstration at the World Cup, Ahmed Musa has shown what he is capable of. Now Puel must show that he believes in him. Who knows if the forgotten man might still turn into one to remember?