Iheanacho's mental strength behind goalscoring form, says Rodgers

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has hailed Kelechi Iheanacho's mental strength after the striker's scintillating form.

Iheanacho has scored 14 goalsinhislast14gamesahead of tonight's Premier League trip to Southampton.

He had not struck in the league before February and had previously gone a year, between September 2018 and September 2019, without a goal.

Iheanacho has been forced to play second fiddle to Jamie Vardy since arriving for £25million from Manchester Cityin2017,buthasnownetted more, 17, than Vardy - who has top scored for Leicester every season since 2015-16.

Rodgers said: "Kelechi is a talent, we mustn’t forget that. He’s a big talent and came here for a large price-tag - and maybe just didn’t have quite the opportunities. That’s natural when you have one of Europe’s top strikers in front of him.

"It’s difficult, especially if you don’t play that system, but you have to tip your hat to his mental toughness. That’s one of the things that’s right up the topformeinanidealfootballer.

“He’s shown that mental toughness, he’s gone through spells.EvenbeforeIcamehere, they were moans and groans when he came onto the pitch.

But I don’t think there’s any nowwhenyoulookatwhathe's producing and delivering.

“That’s a huge testament to Kelechi’s mentality. It’s not surprising because he is a really talented player. What’s great is that he’s taken the opportunityandhe’sflourishedwithit.

"It was about keeping his belief and his confidence."

Iheanacho's late winner in Monday's2-1victoryoverCrystal Palace meant third-placed

Leicesterneedthreewinsfrom theirfinalfivegamestoguarantee a top-four spot.

The 24-year-old had also started just two top-flight games this season before his scoring streak began against FulhaminFebruary,butRodgers insisted Iheanacho was always a valued member of his squad.

He said: "That’s the key thingwithplayerswhoareoutside of the starting XI and not playing, as a manager you have to recognise and acknowledge their importance. Everybody will shine a torch on the guys who are playing.

"It wasn’t that Kelechi wasn’t in my plans, we were playing a different system, but he was always very important to my squad.

"I’m also the type of coach who doesn’t necessarily think too much about what I don’t have,IworkwithwhatI’vegot.”