Boss is left surprised by striker

PATSON Daka will have been extensively scouted by Leicester City but he is still able to surprise manager Brendan Rodgers, writes Jordan Blackwell.

The Zambian striker, signed for £23 million in the summer, made his mark in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with QPR.

He not only scored his first goal in a City shirt, but opened the space for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s finish, and then won the penalty for Kelechi Iheanacho’s late equaliser.

It was the pace he showed to latch on to Luke Thomas’s pass and force the foul from QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng that particularly wowed Rodgers, who knew his new man was quick, but not that quick.

The boss is backing him to be a hit.

“He was excellent when he came into the game,” Rodgers said in his post-match press conference at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

“With players coming into the Premier League you have to give them time, but certainly one thing we know with him is that he has that great pace.

“His goal, you see his comfort as soon as he is in that one-on-one situation, he finishes with great calmness.

“His pace, I couldn’t believe he actually got to the ball to create the penalty. He will prove to be a really exciting signing for us and I’m delighted we were able to get him.”

Daka partnered Iheanacho as he played the final half-hour for City at QPR, having featured as a lone striker in his opening run-out, and then alongside Jamie Vardy in midweek.

It seems Rodgers is trying to discover the best formation in which he can thrive, albeit the manager is not putting any pressure on the 22-year-old, at least not this season.

Speaking before the game about Daka and fellow new recruit Boubakary Soumare, Rodgers said: “They’re going to be important players and make a really good contribution, but I’m relaxed on their development this coming season.”