Demarai Gray can save his Leicester City career as a striker

Demarai Gray has the potential to be a world-class winger but hasn’t fulfilled his potential. This is why Leicester City should use him as a striker.

Leicester City have begun the 2019/20 season very well indeed. Despite a draw against a jaded Wolverhampton Wanderers, which should have been a more attacking affair. After four matches in the Premier League the Foxes are unbeaten, currently positioned third behind the mighty and presently untouchable Manchester City and Liverpool.

Yes, the campaign is in its infancy but Leicester are on a basic track for fulfilling aspirations. Brendan Rodgers said European qualification through sixth or seventh is the aim, along with a cup run.

Obviously the most important element of any successful side is plentiful goals. Jamie Vardy is hitting form once more. His chipped effort versus Bournemouth was particularly special – underlining his perennially underrated quality.

Kelechi Iheanacho is seen as the understudy to Vardy’s monopoly in attack and looked fairly sharp in pre-season. Albeit the Nigerian is inconsistent at best and has not proved himself in anything meaningful. That is except from netting a couple of friendly and League Cup finishes.

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Demarai Gray can reach Leicester City goals

Waiting in the wings – excuse the pun – is Demarai Gray. Another perpetually underperforming Leicester City player. The Birmingham-born winger has also never come close to reaching his great promise. Immensely talented: speed, finishing ability and skill are in abundance for the 23-year-old.

However, at that age he must show his value! Time for the England Under-21 international may run out if he does not now produce for the ambitious East Midlands side. In all honesty he would find himself sold to a lesser top-flight club or, desperately, back plying his underdeveloped trade in the Championship. It’s not that he doesn’t have the potential, the issues seem to occasionally arise from a lack of ideas, desire or focus.

Gray as a striker

As previously stated, Gray has the skill set to eventually become a winger of world-class calibre. Although at the moment he will have to work on that. Studying the productivity of the EPL’s most devastating wide-men is my advice; attempt to discover how to produce more end product.

In contemporary times with Iheanacho not even featuring on the bench, Rodgers as well as his assistant decided to use Gray as a support-striker and general back-up attacker. He was impactful versus the Cherries when he entered the contest, the Bournemouth defenders were flustered and unable to deal with his pace and effervescence.

This avenue may be Gray’s best bet in maintaining his Leicester City status. Refinement is necessary; though Rodgers has dealt with such supreme strikers as Luis Suarez so hopefully there is knowledge to pass on from the gaffer.

There is more here from Leicester Mercury about the Englishmen, who has played as a forward in parts of his career, overtaking Iheanacho in the pecking order.