Prior to Sunday’s game between Leicester City and Sheffield United, few would have predicted that Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho would find his best form in from of goal and bang his first hattrick in the English Premier League.
The Nigeria international, who in the early part of the season had a quiet time due to team manager, Brendan Rodgers’ inability to believe in his quality, neglecting him for many games, and was almost encouraged by a few football pundits to leave during the January transfer window.
It was a moment when many players would have handed a transfer request to their team in order to get more playing times with other clubs but Iheanacho kept strong faith, hoping that his chance will come despite playing second or third fiddle behind Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez.
Recall that on February 3rd, 2021, Iheanacho scored his first Premier League goal of the season to help Leicester City secure a 2-0 victory over Fulham in Wednesday’s Premier League game. It was that goal that kick-started the former Golden Eaglets season considering the fact that it was his third league start of the season.
However, on Sunday, March 14, 2021, Iheanacho proved doubters wrong again with his all-round-superb display against Sheffield United as he grabbed his first hattrick in the colours of Leicester City and also Premier League. Before his hattrick, he has scored in the last two matches; a 1-1 draw with Burnley and a 2-1 victory over Brighton.
Iheanacho has taken his stats to 10 goals in 27 games for Leicester – in which he has only started 14 of those and completed 90 minutes on just five occasions. His future this summer could also be up in the air.
He is certainly one of the most improved players in the Foxes’ squad this term, offering his side a great threat and a real alternative to Vardy who has been a critical part of the side for several years and gives Rodgers and his coaching staff a different way of playing moving forward.
Despite the injuries in attacking areas, Iheanacho continues to be ruthless when presented with an opportunity and will be an important part of the side in the final months of the season as the club looks to secure a place in the Champions League for next season as well as having one eye on lifting the FA Cup come to the end of the campaign.
By Augustine Akhilomen
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COMMENTS
“He is certainly one of the most improved players in the Foxes’ squad………….”. REALLY????????????????? OH BECAUSE THE CLUB/WHITEMAN SAID SO…How sad we have constantly become the follow follow race. Even when the whiteman is sitting, we are asking him to let us know when he is about to move so we can follow. NACHO HAS ALWAYS BEING A SUPERB TALENT BUT CONSTANTLY DENIED QUALITY PLAYING TIME DUE TO LACK OF FAITH FROM RODGER MOORE, NOT TRYING TO BE MORDANT HERE THOUGH. THAT LACK OF CONFIDENT FROM MANAGERS CAN EASILY SUPPRESS A PLAYERS TALENT AND IF CARE IS NOT TAKING, KILL IT. NACHO IS PLAYING TODAY, DEFINITELY NOT BECAUSE OF ANY PERCIEVED IMPROVEMENT BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF INJURIES TO THE MANAGERS FAVOURITE. NACHO MUST USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THE WRONG; DO A ONE TO ONE CONVERSATION WITH RODGER MOORE THAT HE WANTS TO BE STARTING AND GETTING WELL ENOUGH MINUTES EVEN IF OTHERS COME BACK FROM INJURY. AND IF THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE GUARANTEED, HE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. NACHO, MBAPPE, RASHFORD,OSIMENE, HAALAND,ETC ARE TO ME,THE PERFECT FIT TO BE LEADING THE ATTACK OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THIS GENERATION…