Kelechi Iheanacho part of Brendan Rodgers’ plans at Leicester City
Remember Kelechi Iheanacho? Yes, that striker who missed that late chance against Manchester City? Well, he’s part of Brendan Rodgers’ future plans at Leicester City.
No, he really is. Liverpool fans might not want him to be anyway near English Football after he sinned at the Etihad Stadium but the former Reds gaffer is not having any of that.
He doesn’t seem to care if the young Nigerian is right in the middle of the maelstrom. He wants him here at the King Power Stadium, scoring goals and doing things that he is supposed to after helping the Citizens bag an awful lot of money. Okay, it’s not a lot for them but it is for Leicester.
Anyway, here’s what Rodgers said about Iheanacho.
"“Yes he is (part of my plans).“He’s just had his first season adapting to a new club. Then when you’re playing or challenging one of the best strikers in the league, it’s difficult.“Kel will come back into pre-season, have a really good pre-season, gain more confidence, work hard and hopefully come out of that with a renewed motivation to show his qualities.”"
While the footballing world doesn’t seem to rate Iheanacho at all, Rodgers – who is yet to hand the 22-year old a start since his arrival, by the way – is impressed with him. The boss knows. Obviously.
"“I’ve been impressed with him,” said Rodgers.“His appetite, his work, and then in games, where he has come on, whether it’s for five minutes or for 15 minutes, he’s impacted the game and done very well, and he nearly did again, it’s just unfortunate.“He knows he should score, in big games you don’t get many chances and he has the quality, but it just didn’t happen for him.“He’s a fantastic young player and hopefully he can show that over his time at Leicester.”"
Either God or Rodgers knows what will happen with Iheanacho. He arrived with so much to look forward to and two years later, the only thing fans are looking forward to is his departure. They just don’t want him anymore.
But Rodgers loves him a few young players. This man has a real sehnsucht for developing talented young players. The more, the better. But the talent has to be there.
Next. How Brendan Rodgers has transformed Leicester City. dark
The Iheanacho at City seemed talented. The one who arrived in the East Midlands gives you the feel of a poor man’s Nicklas Bendtner.