Is Leicester’s George Hirst the heir to Jamie Vardy’s throne?

What Hirst does well and his growth

As should be expected, I like Hirst. I have already stated that his key attributes are similar to many influential strikers from the past two decades of Premier League Football, so it is no wonder that Leicester City snapped him up when his value was low.

Also, it has to be said that he was rather consistent in scoring a single goal in a match. His attributes, when mixed with his consistency, make him a very valuable prospect for the King Power outfit.

What he offers is very similar to Dominic Calvert-Lewin: positional awareness, strength, and composure in front of goal. These are his key attributes which have brought him to joining Brendan Rodgers and one of the most exciting teams in Prem’ history.

He just knows where to stand! If a play is building, he will drive forward into a dangerous position, ready for the right kind of pass into him to create an opportunity, otherwise, he readies himself to try a header on. That positional sense is something only one other Foxes’ striker has – Kelechi Iheanacho.

However, this prospect is not quite having the best of times out on loan. As noted, he is at Rotherham United – in the Championship – where he was sent to get a tase of English football and to develop those skills he has in a tougher environment.

Well, tough it has been. Hirst is involved in a relegation scrap, and has yet to score for Rotherham over the course of 23 appearances, and has yet to register a single assist. With an average SofaScore rating of only 6.55.

That is just not good enough. No matter how poor the circumstances might be, for someone with his attributes, it should be expected for him to score at least a couple. What may have happened to him is the general lack of creativity in the Rotherham team affecting his ability to get in front of goal and score.

This loan move has been extremely poor. Only saved by the fact he has played relatively regular football, thus has maintained his fitness. He has not developed his key attributes at all. A 3/10 rating for this loan move.

With Jamie Vardy reaching ripeness, Kelechi Iheanacho looking more like a Vardy replacement, new prospects with flair and ingenuity catching the fans eyes, and the rumours of new signings to replace Vardy, George Hirst would need to drastically improve to be involved at the King Power next season.

Unlike the promising Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Kamal Sowah, I expect another loan move – this time to League One – for the heir to David Hirst’s legacy next season. Do not count him out though for the season after that, when we could expect to know whether Vardy’s contract will be extended beyond the 2023 terminal point.