Leicester City coach, teammate shower Kelechi Iheanacho with praise

by Bertin Basson

Tuesday Apr 27, 2021. 12:48

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel have showered in-form forward Kelechi Iheanacho with fresh praise.

The Nigeria international has been in sensational form over the past few months and has played a key part in the Foxes’ push for Uefa Champions League football next season.

Iheanacho teed up teammate Timothy Castagne for the the equaliser after Wilfried Zaha fired Crystal Palace ahead at King Power Stadium, then smashed home an 80th minute winner as Leicester came from behind to beat the Eagles 2-1 in the Premier League on Monday evening.

The 24-year-old has scored 10 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances and formed a formidable strike-partnership with Jamie Vardy.

“The top priority for me as a coach is helping players to develop,” Rodgers told the BBC.

“It’s been difficult for ‘Kele’ because of the style we normally played which was one striker – Vardy.

“We had to change it with injuries, he’s come in and been exceptional. Not just his goals, he’s so happy to work hard for the team and his quality is phenomenal.”

Schmeichel said Iheanacho had all the qualities to be a top striker.

“He’s so good at the particular one where he shifts it and then puts it through the defender’s legs and wrong-foots the goalkeeper,” Schmeichel told Sky Sports.

“He’s a nightmare in training.”

Iheanacho, whose goal against Palace you can watch below, has scored 17 goals in 33 matches across all competitions this season.