Iheanacho has shown promise over the years, but he has been inconsistent
Tottenham Hotspur Legend Robbie Keane believes Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is an excellent striker, but he believes the only thing missing from his game is scoring goals.
Iheanacho was the best player in the under-17 World Cup in 2013. However, he has failed to live up to the expectations since then.
He has had spurts, but they never last. He had to leave Manchester City in 2017 because Pep Guardiola did not have him in his plans. He then joined Leicester City, but Iheanacho’s best games have come in patches. Perhaps lack of game time could be blamed for his inconsistency.
The 26-year-old Super Eagles striker helped Leicester City win the FA Cup two seasons ago and finished as their top goalscorer. A lot was expected from him last season. But Brendan Rodgers decided to use him sparingly, despite his heroics of the previous season.
This season, Iheanacho had only a handful of games before the World Cup break. But since the turn of the month, Iheanacho has started all previous four of the Foxes’ games.
He scored in the previous three, but he fired blanks in his side’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The former Manchester City man had a decent first half, but he could have scored. But he was poor in the second half and had to be substituted for Jamie Vardy in the 74th minute.
Despite his occasional struggles, former Tottenham and Liverpool man Keane believes that Iheanacho is an exceptional forward. But he needs to start racking up goals if he wants to take his game to the next level.
“He’s different to Jamie Vardy,” Keane told Sky Sports per Leicester Mercury.
“Jamie gets in behind, he’s done a great job. But Iheanacho, he’s more of a rounded player, he can get in the pockets, get on the ball, make things happen, and he can run in behind as well.
“My only criticism would be that he probably doesn’t score enough goals. I think he has three goals this season, but he gets himself in great positions.
“He gets in really good positions, and when you’re playing with Maddison, it’s a dream for a striker because you know that he’s always going to look for you with balls in behind.
“He’s got great feet, exceptional last week against Tottenham, he’s strong, I think he’s got everything and can only get better. He’s a player that’s going to do really well this season.”
Iheanacho has five goals and four assists in 23 appearances for the Foxes. He seems to have fought his way back into the first eleven, especially as Patson Daka has not been impressive.
He would look to post excellent performances as Leicester City look to end the season on a high.
