Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers says Kelechi Iheanacho remain part of his squad despite the forward’s lack of playing of time this season, reports Completesports.com.
Iheanacho is yet to make an appearance for the Foxes this term despite scoring thrice in pre-season.
The Nigeria international failed to make club’s matchday squad in their last two Premier League games against Sheffield United and Bournemouth.
He was also omitted for the Carabao Cup away win at Newcastle United last month.
But Rodgers insists that the former Manchester City player who is about to reach a whole year without a goal remain an integral part of his team.
” He’s very much a part of the squad. We have a really tight training group which he is a part of. During the course of the season we are going to need all the players,”Rodgers told a press conference ahead of his side’s visit to Old Trafford this weekend.
“Over the summer we strengthened the squad so everyone is going to be competing for a place. He trains really hard whether he is in the squad or not.”
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Iheanacho is facing an uphill battle. Vardy is a quality English striker, and is ahead of him on merit at the moment. And priority will always be given to the other English talent for places in the squad. To break into the first team, Iheanacho must bring something outstanding to the table. Otherwise, he will continue to keep the bench warm and toasty for the foreseeable future.
This guy is becoming annoying to me, I don’t see any atom of the Igbo man rogedity, and hustling spirit in him at all.
Does he not see Osimhen, Chukweze and Awoniyi?
He is just comfortable drawing salaries.
The problem with Iheanacho this season goes further than we realise.
He is not just competing with Vardy,but also with Gray, Ayoze Perez and Rachid Ghezzal in the forward line.
Since Iheanacho failed to take his chances last season,the new coach got two forward liners in the latter names mentioned above.
Where it gets worst for Kele is the fact that,both new addition in Ayoze and Ghezzal,can play anywhere in the forward line. Yes,arguably, Iheanacho too,but he has failed to take his chance when given.
So in Rodgers mind,he has to give his new boys the chance too.
So since Kelechi didn’t get to move this summer,like Slimani, I believe he must have had chat with the coach,and Rodgers have given him the confidence he is part of his plans. All he has to do is keep working hard,keeping fit,getting better physically and psychologically,cause when the chance comes,he needs to take it this time.and due to the rigorous English season,the chance would come for Kelechi; it is up to him to take it or not.
That goal he refused to take against Man City last year came back to haunt him. It practically handed the league shield to his former club at the expense of Liverpool, but it was the final straw that broke the camel’s back for Rodgers. “He should score,” Rodgers said bluntly and straight-faced at the post-match conference. The gaffer was obviously riled but managed to keep cool.
There and then, Rodgers decided Kelechi was not up to scratch to deputize for Vardy and he had to get replacements with more brutal instincts at the front. Besides, Brendan Rodgers is a Liverpool man (immediate ex coach and true kop) and would do anything to help the Reds win the league, just as West Ham’s Manuel Pelegrini (immediate ex coach and true Cityzen) always loves to ‘dash’ (donate) Pep Guardiola 3 free points every season while fighting tooth and nail with his team to peel of 2 or 3 points off Liverpool.
Yep, politics of football and every coach has his favourite or preferred team among the contenders (City and Liverpool). Kelechi, always know your coach’s preference and follow. Don’t be a secret supporter of the sky blue men and sabotage the Reds. Lol. Just adding a light perspective to the whole Kelechi conundrum. It’s a conspiracy theory but I can’t shake it off in my guts.
Now, Kelechi is down to number 4 in the pecking order (from number 2). And that’s not just at Leicester, but also in the Super Eagles (despite the retirement of Ighalo, the former number one in the pecking order). I think just as Rodgers, in the mind of Rohr at the moment, Kelechi is behind Osimhen, Dennis and Onuachu. Sad. His attitude does not help matters either.