A KELL OF A STATEMENT
Iheanacho’ s second fiddle while Vardy calls tune
BRENDAN RODGERS has warned Kelechi Iheanacho he is in for a battle to be Leicester’s main man.
The powerful Nigerian striker stepped up after injury problems struck Foxes talisman Jamie Vardy.
Iheanacho has netted four times in his last seven outings – including two in his last two Premier League games – and the 24-year-old hotshot is gaining in confidence.
But while boss Rodgers is pleased with Iheanacho’s contribution, he also said he may struggle to unseat Vardy, who is 10 years his senior.
Rodgers said: “I have empathy for Kells – it’s not an easy role for him or any striker coming in when you have someone of Jamie’s quality in front of you.
“I know where Jamie is at. I recognise his speed and his hunger.
“Of course, the body moves through time very quickly.
“And when players get older it’s not so much about their age but how they perform that dictates how they are going to play.
“So moving forward, Kells has done very well in there but we may need another striker.
“At this moment in time, he’s important.
“It’s not about him becoming the main guy – we will always need another striker.”
Iheanacho has kept his head down since his £25million move from Manchester City in August 2017 initially turned sour.
Prolific
He struggled to nail down a place in the side due to Vardy’s prolific striking rate and has found himself sidelined as Rodgers prefers to play with wingers either side of his main forward.
The Foxes chief added: “A lot of the time we have played with one up front with two wingers.
“And that’s meant Jamie has played because of the level he’s at. At times, we have played two up front, Kells has gone up there and been really effective. In the main, he’s done very well for us.
Rhythm
“In one game, against Crystal Palace, he wasn’t at his best. But he has been first class and once he got that rhythm back, he’s showed up well. Kells has been great, he never misses training and we’ve tried to improve his confidence and be specific with certain areas of his game.
“And, yes, he’s had times when his confidence has been down but we have tried to build it back up, so when he arrives into the game he can make a contribution.
“His goals against Burnley and Fulham, and against Brighton last week, show his quality.
“He’s been a great understudy for us and, in the main, he always give his all and produces.
“He’s been a joy. No trouble whatsoever. All in all, Kells is a very important member of the squad.”