Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho’s first goal of the season only came on February 3. Since that day, the Nigerian international striker has scored more goals than any other player in the Premier League since that time.
Kelechi assisted the equalizing goal and scored the winning goal as Leicester City beat Crystal Palace 2-1 to gain a seven-point lead in the top four races, with 1xbet promo giving fans the option to predict how far Leicester will go this season.
This is indeed a major feat for a striker who has always played second fiddle to Jamie Vardy and also had to wait 14 months for a first league goal from September 2018 to December 2019. What a long and frustrating wait for a striker with so many potentials
Kelechi is Leicester City’s top scorer this campaign, having scored 17 goals, the first time since 2014-15 that England international striker Jamie Vardy has been in danger of not leading the club’s goal scoring chart.
Kelechi Promise Iheanacho who started his senior career at Premier League side Manchester City during the 2015–16 campaign joined the Foxes in 2017 for a fee believed to be about £25 million.
Despite being a part of the promising Nigeria squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as the Nigeria U-20 team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he struggled to fulfill his potential at Manchester City and was sold by the club to make space for Gabriel Jesus.
The turning point in his career at Leicester City has been starting alongside the Prolific Jamie Vardy in the attack.
The pair only started eight matches together last campaign and did not do so this season until 28 February – and even then it was only because of injuries to star midfielder James Maddison and other players. They have played every league and cup game together since.
The Nigerian striker has netted 14 goals in his last 14 matches, as many as he managed in his last 76 for the Foxes.
Only Tottenham Hotspurs striker Harry Kane (18) has been involved in more goals than Kelechi Iheanacho (15) among players in the Premier League in all competitions this year.
Kelechi Iheanacho in a recent interview told BBC Sport “That [race to be top scorer] is not what we talk about”.
“As a team, we work for each other, it doesn’t matter who scores the goals.
“There’s so much to improve in games so I’ll keep going, keep doing my best.”
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers had so much praise for the Nigerian:
“Over the last few months, Kelechi has been absolutely incredible. It wasn’t just his goal but his work rate; he wants to press the game. He has no ego whatsoever and he works so hard.”
In another interview, Rodgers said: “The top priority for me as a coach is helping players to develop. It’s been difficult for Kels because of the style we normally played which was one striker – Jamie Vardy.
“We had to change it around with injuries; he’s come in and been exceptional. Not just his goals, he’s so happy to work hard for the team and his quality is phenomenal.”
His confidence is extremely high at the moment because he knows when he plays he’s not going to get substituted for Vardy.
Kelechi has shown tremendous potency in front of goal recently rarely seen in his entire career. His 10 goals in the Premier League this season outstrip his expected goals.
The improvement of the Nigerian striker can also be attributed to the arrival of manager Brendan Rodgers. Secondly, Rodgers has adopted a tactic that best suits Kelechi over time.
There’s no denying the fact that Vardy’s time as the Foxes’ leading striker is coming to an end. It appears Leicester has a new number nine to lead the attack.