Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, marked his long-awaited return from injury with a commanding performance in Leicester City’s FA Cup fourth-round clash against Manchester United, Soccernet.ng reports.
Despite Leicester falling to a 2-1 defeat, the Nigerian midfielder showed his importance by leading the Foxes’ midfield battle before his substitution with Harry Winks altered the dynamics of the game.
After nearly two months on the sidelines, Ndidi wasted no time to assert his influence for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s troops at Old Trafford.
The 28-year-old captained the Foxes and was instrumental in Leicester’s opening goal, finding space in the box for a shot that was blocked before Bobby De Cordova-Reid capitalised on the loose ball to head home.
LEICESTER TAKE THE LEAD OVER MAN UNITED AT OLD TRAFFORD!
THE BALL DEFLECTS OFF ONANA AND DE CORDOVA-REID HEADS IT HOME pic.twitter.com/BCbJ8kUelT
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 7, 2025
Ndidi played 58 minutes, registering 52 touches and completing 35 of his 43 passes, to maintain an 81% accuracy rate.
The Super Eagles star attempted two long balls, completing one, and won one of his four ground duels while dominating aerially with two successful duels out of two. He also managed one shot on target, made one clearance, one block, and one interception, but was dribbled past once.
Wilfred Ndidi vs United:
58 minutes played
52 touches
35/43 accurate passes (81%)
1/2 accurate long balls
1/4 ground duels won
2/2 aerial duels won
1 shot on target
1 clearance
1 block
1 interception
1 time dribbled past| #LCFC | pic.twitter.com/pJ6zTlKiWI
— LCFC Data (@LCFCDATA) February 7, 2025
However, following Ndidi and his teammate’ performance in the first half of the game, the Red Devils clawed back with 1-nil defeat to score two goals to knock Leicester City out of the FA Cup thanks to goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Harry Maguire.
Ndidi, with his return will hope to make a difference when they welcome Mikel Arteta’s troops to the King Power Stadium.
