Who’s to blame for Leicester relegation? Part 8: strikers

We still love him but even he will acknowledge that it just hasn’t happened for him this season and the road to retirement may be closing in. Finishing it off by firing Leicester back into the Premier League would help round the story off neatly at least.

Patson Daka – Games (36) – Goals (4)

The problem for Vardy is he doesn’t appear to have a ready-made replacement waiting to take the number nine shirt off him. In Daka’s first season, he achieved the famous feat of scoring four goals in one crazy European game. That was the sum total of his contribution this season. A sporadic three goals in four games across September and October raised hopes but they were quickly quashed as the understudy to the legend flattered to deceive.

His aggression and pressure are enthusiastic but they lack serious quality, intelligence and most tellingly balance. I can’t remember a player I see so consistently slip over when running across the King Power pitch. If he could change his suede loafers for something with some studs in, that might help.

Glimpses of quality have been sparse this season but a sensational goal against Chelsea showed a glimmer of what Daka could be like with chances and confidence. Maybe the Championship will be ideal to help bed in his confidence. He’s only 24, time is on his side and he has three years left on his contract – unless anyone is offering good money of course.