DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR CITY

Rodgers has already beaten Pep this season and now he’ll unleash Vardy AND Iheanacho on leaders

BRENDAN RODGERS has already masterminded one memorable win over Manchester City this season.

Now the Leicester manager will attempt to repeat the trick today with a strike duo who are becoming quite the double act.

Times have changed a bit since that Sunday night in September when Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick as the Foxes sensationally won 5-2 at the Etihad.

Seven months later,

Pep Guardiola’s men are

14 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

But Leicester remain in the midst of another memorable season. They are third in the table, in the FA Cup semifinals – and could meet City in the final – and now it is Vardy who has turned from scorer to provider for Kelechi Iheanacho (the pair, right).

Nigeria striker Iheanacho used to play for City before Guardiola sold him in 2017 to the Foxes for £25million. He has scored nine goals in his last nine games.

Not a bad place to be ahead of a match against your former team and manager, and with the reward of yesterday being named the Premier League’s Player of the Month.

Rodgers has confirmed the star is in line for a new contract after excelling alongside Vardy, and the manager is relishing their partnership.

“Since they have come together, those two have shown they are really dynamic and they have big quality,” said Rodgers (with Guardiola, below).

“If you are finding that is your best source of creating and scoring goals, then you have to find a way to put them in the team. Both are playing very well.

“You see the quality of Jamie’s movement for his assists has been first class. What he gives the team and how he stretches the game also gives Kels the spaces to play in.

“They both link up very well and, when they have played together, they have been outstanding. Hopefully, they can both play well, if they play at the weekend.

“The trick is to try to get the two scoring and the two creating. But the beauty of it is that with Jamie, even though he hasn’t scored, he has gone so close in a number of games.

“It really shows how unselfish he is by picking out his team-mates in good positions to make the chances for Kelechi to score.”

Iheanacho has made 51 Premier League substitute appearances and only 36 starts for Leicester. Yet he has emerged as a vital starter this year, following injuries to the likes of Vardy, Harvey Barnes and James

Maddison. Iheanacho scored a hat-trick in the 5-0 romp against Sheffield United in their last Premier League game, when Vardy assisted him twice with perfect crosses from the left (celebrating, circle).

Now Iheanacho has his old club in his sights after his brace dumped Manchester United out of the FA Cup. Rodgers said: “He was the understudy there to some incredible talents, like Sergio Aguero. That is always going to be very difficult and likewise when he came here.

“But there is a very important role for him here, which is why he has never become too down.

“Whether he is on his own or up there with Jamie or another striker, he has kept a great attitude and is a really committed and very resilient player.

“At 24, he is developing and showing a really high level. The aim is to continue that.”

Rodgers has confirmed plans to give the forward a new deal soon, as Iheanacho’s original five-year term expires next year.

“He is definitely someone we would want,” added Rodgers. “That is what you aim to have, a squad which is developing and getting better, and he can contribute for you.

“I am pretty sure there will be something organised between him and his representatives.”