Daniel Amartey’s rise from forgotten misfit to Leicester cult hero

When the next season got underway, it was clear that Amartey’s future did not lie in midfield, with the Ghanaian starting 6 of the club’s first ten fixtures, all in the back line. These would be his last Premier League appearances for 23 months, after suffering a broken ankle against West Ham in October 2018.

Amartey would have to wait until the first full pandemic season to come back into the Premier League fold, slotting seamlessly into a back three as the King Power club dismantled would-be champions Manchester City on their own turf with a 5-2 mauling in which the defender completed 90 minutes. Again, injuries proved his worst enemy, limiting Amartey to just five more full appearances as his side finished fifth for the second consecutive season. A hamstring problem came just at the wrong time, leading to a nine-game spell on the treatment table, after which the No.18 had fallen out of favour.

Fast-forward to the campaign just gone, and the perception of Daniel Amartey among the Foxes fanbase is broadly positive. A season in which he played 23 times from the start, a lot of which as Leicester’s best available defender, has endeared the Ghanaian to the club’s supporters, developing him into something of a cult hero.

The lack of consistent playing time in previous years had meant the overview of Amartey was unclear, with his ability always being questioned. Now, observers can see the leadership qualities he displays in marshalling his fellow defenders, and how clever he can be in anticipating danger or shifting the ball subtly to find an extra few yards to pass the ball into a midfield teammate.

The summer rebuild might eventually arrive, and there have been whispers that an Amartey departure may be a part of that. Whatever happens, a rapport has been built with a section of the Leicester support who will always appreciate his efforts and the way he bounced back from a nasty injury to put on the blue shirt once more.