Ndidi return to lift Leicester in European race

Midfielder ready to play against Villa tonight We are a better team with him, says Rodgers

As the countdown begins to Leicester’s 10 remaining Premier League games, is there a more valuable player to the club’s European mission than Wilfred Ndidi?

There have been the 17 goals of Jamie Vardy, the invention of James Maddison, the underrated brilliance of Ricardo Pereira and consistency of Jonny Evans, but Ndidi is arguably the man who holds the key to Leicester’s hopes of a return to the Champions League.

Ndidi is set to make his first start in the league since New Year’s Day against Aston Villa tonight, after a knee injury, and his return cannot come soon enough for manager Brendan Rodgers.

In the five league games Ndidi has missed this year, Leicester have lost three and drawn two. There was another defeat at Norwich in their last league game, and the only source of comfort for Rodgers from that insipid display was the return of the Nigeria international in the 67th minute.

Ndidi’s importance to Leicester is clear: since he was signed from Genk for £14 million in January 2017, the club’s win percentage is only 16.7 when he is out of the team.

Ahead of tonight’s Midlands derby, Rodgers has admitted the 23-year-old’s role in the team cannot be underestimated.

“We know we’re a better team with him in it,” Rodgers said. “I always talk about Jordan Henderson, when we missed out on the title at Liverpool, that was the single biggest thing for me. Having that type of player is critical, and of course, Wilf gives you that.

“We’ve got some other really good players in our squad who can come in and do a job. But when you’re one of the best players in your position in the league, he’s always going to be a miss.

“Some of the guys have come in and done fantastic, and we’ve won games without Wilf, but just in general, he’s irrepressible in what he gives the team and what he allows others to be able to do. Hopefully he can stay fit now.”

Ndidi is the warrior in Leicester’s midfield, the old-fashioned spoiler who breaks up play and rhythm of opponents, winning the ball back with brutal efficiency.

Operating as the “pivot” in front of the back four, he performs the job of protecting the defence and enabling attacking players such as Maddison and Youri Tielemans to flourish further upfield.

He averages just over 49 passes a match, and has made 58 interceptions and 44 clearances this season. Those statistics are never going to be eye-catching, but Rodgers is acutely aware that much of Ndidi’s work goes under the radar.

When Ndidi was signed three years ago there were inevitable, possibly tired, comparisons with N’golo Kante, who played such a crucial role in Leicester’s title win under Claudio Ranieri in 2015-16.

Kante’s influence in that season should not be forgotten, but Ndidi has become Leicester’s MVP in his own right. It is remarkable that a defensive midfielder – never a role to hog the headlines – can prove so critical to a team’s effectiveness.

Ndidi spends time away from football at Leicester De Montfort University, where he is studying for a business and management degree, and admits that his education under Rodgers has been valuable.

“My understanding of the game is so much better now. I see the game differently,” he said. “The manager has made me understand more about the game, like the space available on the pitch. I feel like I’ve really improved since I first joined Leicester. What I know now, if I’d have known it when I was growing up, I’d have been a better player. I’m grateful to the manager for everything he has installed in us.”

Ndidi’s absence this year came at a pivotal stage in the season, after damaging a meniscus at training in January. He had knee surgery, but returned just 13 days later for the 4-1 win over West Ham United.

That “incredible recovery”, in the words of Rodgers, surprised medical staff but there was still a lingering issue with the knee and Ndidi has started only two games since: the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Villa and last week’s FA Cup win over Birmingham City.

Now, however, there is hope that he is fully fit for the final 10 games of the season, plus the FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea this month.

Leicester remain third in the table, five points ahead of fifthplaced Manchester United, despite having picked up just 12 points from the past 12 games.

A place in next season’s Champions League is in their hands. With Ndidi back in the team, everything is possible.