As Kelechi Iheanacho proved once again instrumental in yet another match-winning display, the Nigerian striker is looking every bit the star striker that Leicester City shelled out £25 million for in 2017. But it wasn’t always this easy.
A tale of two Palaces
No this isn’t the latest in the long running royal saga but more the tale of two games. With a ridiculous schedule of two games in less than 48 hours at Christmas, Brendan Rodgers was forced to hand his rarely used Nigerian striker a start at Selhurst Park ahead of the rested star striker Jamie Vardy. The game did not go to plan for the replacement striker. A missed penalty and a glaring missed header was all that Kelechi could manage in a 1-1 draw that saw him subbed twenty minutes before the end. In my own assessment i even confessed that this could be his last chance for Leicester City as he was approaching the final year of his contract. Fast forward four months to the King Power Stadium and the turnaround is nothing short of remarkable.
Iheanacho is now the star striker at the club after a run of games that has now seen him score 17 goals with 14 in his last 14 games. Against Roy Hodgson’s stubborn Palace, Iheanacho was a constant menace. Ghosting into positions and dropping in between the lines. He set up Timothy Castagne for a fine equaliser before unleashing an unstoppable thunderbolt of a strike past a stunned Vicente Guaita in the Palace goal. The eagles had been felled by a Super Eagle in a Leicester shirt. His turnaround in confidence is remarkable, with his goals arguably single handedly dragged Leicester to their first FA Cup Final for 52 years added to a Premier League player of the month award for March.
History repeating itself?
It is truly inspiring to see someone so many people wrote off come through adversity and reap the rewards. Now where have we heard that before? You don’t have to look too hard to find a recent example of a Leicester striker turning things around after being written off. Jamie Vardy’s first season at Leicester in 2012 and his first Premier league season in 2014 were hardly vintage stuff, before he went on to achieve legendary status.
The irony of Iheanacho’s emergence is that it coincides with Vardy’s poorest run of form in front of goal since 2014/15. He has scored two goals since Christmas and is devoid of confidence. His swaggering strike partner is doing his best to set him up with chance after chance but Vardy doesn’t seem to be moving right or striking the ball with any confidence.
From a purely selfish viewpoint Leicester are in a better place. Their ageing talisman’s lack of form has barely hurt their performances whilst another younger striker has blossomed. It would be foolish to write Vardy off anytime soon, but time is ticking against his time as Leicester’s main man, hopefully there are a few more pieces of history to write before that time comes.
He’s more than just goals
As a few early Europa League performances suggested earlier this season, Iheanacho is not just a goal getting striker. His game is far more advanced as he drops into spaces between the lines and brings his teammates into play. He has an eye for a pass as he laid on several chances in the Palace win for players to score who seemed unwillingly to put away one on one chances. He is producing man of the match displays on a more consistent basis with his decision making in the final third improving game on game. Brendan Rodgers and his coaching staff deserve immense credit for persevering where many would have given up and sought a newer option. Patience can reap rewards.
Rashford vs Iheanacho battle
When both Iheanacho and Marcus Rashford burst onto the Manchester scene as young players on opposite sides of the city, debate raged on as to who was the better of the two. It is safe to say that since Kelechi moved to Leicester, the debate has hardly been worth having, with Rashford’s career soaring at Old Trafford. But now the debate is probably closer, as Iheanacho has now matched Rashford’s double figure tally of Premier league goals. Finally his potential is being fulfilled and star striker status is being earned.