Kelechi Iheanacho Becoming A Star At Leicester.

  Kelechi Iheanacho Becoming A Star At Leicester By Admin After years of question marks about his ability to establish himself as a viable offensive option for Leicester City, Kelechi Iheanacho extended his purple patch emphatically with a double against Manchester United last weekend. Rarely, since swapping Manchester City for Leicester City in 2017, has Iheanacho truly suggested that he can represent a consistent goal threat for the 2016 champions and establish himself as Jamie Vardy's heir apparent. In his first four seasons at the King Power Stadium the striker registered three, one, five, and three goals in each campaign, but things certainly appear to have turned a corner. He's already equalled his previous seasonal best, the five-goal tally of 2019-20 in his past two fixtures, following up his hat-trick against Sheffield United with a double against Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Sunday. Considering the quality of the opposition, this was arguably a finer performance and Iheanacho also contributed an assist to take his goal tally to 10 direct contributions in his past nine performances stretching back to the Foxes' 2-0 victory at Fulham in early February. Leicester's 3-1 triumph, as they finally banished their quarter-final hoodoo to reach the final four for the first time since 1982 after five last-eight eliminations was thoroughly inspired by Iheanacho. In truth, the attacker's opener was due in no small part to some calamitous defending on the part of United, as Fred finding himself under pressure misjudged his backpass to Dean Henderson. Iheanacho, clearly in the mood after his plundering of the Blades, didn't need a second invitation; he received the ball from Fred, evaded the advancing goalkeeper with one touch, and claimed the simplest goal of his magnificent scoring run. As had been the case against Sheffield United game, Iheanacho's work in build-up play was almost as impressive as his confidence, the forward linking those around him in a patched-up Leicester forward line and picking up possession before tearing forward into space. He was influential as the Foxes retook the lead in the 52nd minute after Mason Greenwood's 38th-minute equaliser, as he received possession from Youri Tielemans, evaded the leggy Nemanja Matic, and fed the ball back to the Belgian for him to finish with aplomb. Suddenly, the attacker often previously meek and indecisive at Leicester appears imbued with confidence and looks to be totally in control of his considerable gifts. Twelve minutes from time, the Nigerian was decisive in putting the tie beyond United and killing any hope of a comeback, finishing calmly at the back post to meet Marc Albrighton's free-kick after Scott McTominay had missed a charge. Remarkably, considering the paucity of his contribution in the Premier League, Iheanacho's double means that he's now scored more goals in the FA Cup since his January 2016 debut in the tournament 13 in 18 matches than any other player in world football's oldest club competition. Across both the FA Cup and the League Cup, he's now registered 16 goals in 22 starts including 11 in 11 in the former competition. For context, only Sergio Aguero, with 21 goals, has scored more in England's cup competitions than Iheanacho (20) across the past six years. For Rodgers, a switch in the team's formation to pair the Nigerian alongside Vardy is one of the reasons why fans are seeing the best of the frontman.