Rodgers Hails ‘Incredible’ Ndidi

Brendan Rodgers feels youngster Wilfred Ndidi can be the focal point of the Leicester team in the middle of the pitch.

Ndidi put in one of his best performances of the season as the Foxes beat Bournemouth 2-0 on Saturday to sit eighth in the standings on 44 points.

The 22-year-old has a different role under Rodgers, operating as a sole holding midfielder as opposed to being part of a defensive duo, allowing the likes of Youri Tielemans and James Maddison to support Jamie Vardy and create more chances.

Related: Ndidi Is Premier League’s Best Tackler

Leicester seem revitalised under the Northern Irish tactician after stagnating with Claude Puel in charge and it appears they now have more purpose, with Rodgers confessing that Ndidi is crucial to his plans. “I’ve always had one (holding player) in my teams – that sort of central pivot that orchestrates the game,” he said. “I had Steven (Gerrard) do it for me at Liverpool and Leon Britton did it for me at Swansea, different types.

“I like to have a player in there but the three midfielders all have to be different for me. “But you certainly need one who has the appetite to win the ball.

They all have to press and be aggressive but how he wins the ball is incredible. So he’s a fantastic player and he’s only going to get better.”