Kelechi Iheanacho and Youssef En-Nesyri have come in for criticism in recent seasons, for failing to score goals consistently, but the pair have been answering their critics in style over the past few weeks and they were on target again last weekend.
‘Success is the best response to critics’, is a great saying.
Nigeria’s Iheanacho followed on from his inspired display in Leicester City‘s 4-2 thumping of Aston Villa, again looking like one of the most lethal front-men in the Premier League, as the Foxes put Tottenham Hotspur to the sword.
Iheanacho, starting consecutive Premier League games for the first time this season, is clearly relishing the faith shown in him by Brendan Rodgers.
A Wonderful Strike
He is rewarding his head coach, putting up an effective line-leading display as Leicester ran out 4-1 winners.
“It’s a wonderful strike,” Brendan Rodgers told Leicester’s official website. “He’s got quality, Papy, but obviously he prefers to pass rather than shoot. It’s a wonderful finish.”
Spurs crumbled as Leicester grew, and Iheanacho, sensing their fragility, stepped up to take center stage.
Also read: Manchester City Pile the Pressure on Arsenal
Before the break, the Super Eagles striker was played in one-on-one against a thoroughly rattled Eric Dier, and after again holding his nerve until an opening arose, fired a left-footed effort beyond Fraser Forster.
There was little hope of a comeback from this brittle Spurs team, and Iheanacho was unfortunate not to have another assist when he played in Harvey Barnes only for the wideman’s goal to be ruled out for offside by VAR.
Assist Record
Before this match, Iheanacho had assisted in five goals in his five previous games in all competitions for Leicester; now it’s seven in six, taking his goal/assist haul in the Premier League to 67.
Astonishingly, the 26-year-old sits 10th in the all-time Premier League standings for minutes per goal or assist among players with at least 150 appearances.
Iheanacho has scored or registered an assist every 112 minutes in his time with Manchester City and Leicester.
Admittedly, some way off Thierry Henry (every 87 minutes), but rubbing shoulders with the likes of Eric Cantona, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Gabriel Jesus (109) and Harry Kane (105).
Only Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah are ahead of Iheanacho among Africans.
Although no one ever truly regards the Leicester man among the league’s most efficient goal-contributors.
While Iheanacho hadn’t scored in nine Premier League outings before netting against Villa, Sevilla‘s En-Nesyri hadn’t found the net in 14 LaLiga games this season, despite starring for Morocco at the FIFA World Cup.
Coupled with his struggles last season, there were some fears that the 25-year-old would never again return to the career trajectory he once appeared to be on.
