Leicester City Boss Gives Reason For Hauling Off Iheanacho At Halftime Against Man City

Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho was handed a surprise start against the champions on Saturday but had to make way for Harvey Barnes midway into the encounter, and his manager has given reasons why that happened.

Iheanacho didn’t feel well after his first-half collision with City goaltender Ederson and had to be substituted to avoid complications, says the Foxes gaffer Brendan Rodgers.

Pep Guardiola’s men eventually ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a late Gabriel Jesus strike, but the tie could have ended differently had Leicester City been awarded a penalty after the incident between Iheanacho and Ederson.

Both the centre referee Paul Tierney and VAR official David Coote refused to award the home side a penalty after Ederson clattered Kelechi Iheanacho in the area.

The visitors’ goalkeeper may have escaped punishment, but Rodgers insists his striker came out of the incidence the worse off and had to be replaced at halftime based on the advice of the medical team.

“It was the reason he (Iheanacho) had to come off,” Rodgers said in quotes carried by Leicester Mercury.

“I haven’t seen it again, I haven’t seen a replay of it, but the guys are telling me he got caught on the throat. It’s a lovely ball by James [Maddison], and he’s getting there.

“I suppose, for a keeper, he’s come to try to punch the ball, and they try to take the man at the same time. That’s what they do. I haven’t seen it again to give an honest opinion on it.

“Iheanacho felt a bit groggy at half-time, and I always listen to the medical staff on that. They felt it would be hard for him to continue at the level, so Harvey [Barnes] came on and gave us that penetration.”

Iheanacho is yet to feature for the entire duration of any Premier League game this season, save for Leicester City’s 2-1 win at West Ham.