Leicester City are going through a miserable spell in the Championship and their hopes of automatic promotion are now in real jeopardy.
Enzo Maresca‘s side have been sitting pretty at the summit of the Championship table for the majority of the season but four defeats in their last six league games has seen them drop to third, albeit with a game in hand on Ipswich Town and Leeds United.
Their profligate nature has cost them in recent weeks and that was no more evident than on Friday, as Jamie Vardy missed three big chances during the 1-0 defeat at Bristol City.
Supporters have been critical of Patson Daka, in particular, for the number of opportunities he’s squandered and it’s now the ever-reliable Vardy who has found himself in a similar position.
To combat their woes in front of goal, Maresca should consider starting a player who has been on the fringes since December.
Enzo Maresca should start Kelechi Iheanacho v Norwich City
Kelechi Iheanacho hasn’t started a game since the beginning of December when City snatched a dramatic late victory away at West Bromwich Albion.
That is partly due to his Africa Cup of Nation commitments with Nigeria, who reached the final and finished runners-up, but also because of Daka’s reintroduction to the team.
It’s been an odd season for the 27-year-old having featured so predominantly in early stages and seemingly being Maresca’s first-choice option up top.
He netted five goals in six games between September and October and looked every inch of a Premier League player during that time.
So to be completely out of the picture now, and only featuring as a substitute is pretty bizarre and certainly harsh, especially after his brilliant cameo against Bournemouth a few weeks back.
Vardy can only play so many games given he’s 37 and with such a quick turnaround to the Norwich game, it’s the perfect opportunity for Iheanacho to regain his place in the eleven.
Kelechi Iheanacho provides something different
City have always struggled to get the best out of the 27-year-old as they’ve often struggled to fit him into their system.
He’s certainly not a typical number nine, nor is he a number 10, so in order to maximise his attributes, City need players running in behind.
Iheanacho loves to drop deep and be a playmaker, which is a totally different profile to Vardy, Daka and Tom Cannon.
That, however, could free up space for the electrifying wingers – Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu – who could benefit from his inclusion.
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