Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho returned to the Leicester City squad and made a goalscoring return in Leicester City’s fine 4-0 over Luton Town in the Carabao Cup, a performance that drew commendations from his coach.
Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to extend City’s advantage with four minutes to play with a chip that just about beat Luton’s onrushing ‘keeper. It ended the former Man City striker’s long goal drought – he had gone 28 competitive games in a row without finding the net – for the Foxes.
Iheanacho was out of favour in the first six Premier League matches of the 2019-2020 season and was finally rewarded with game time after working hard behind the scenes.
Leicester City assistant coach Chris Davies after the match had only high praises for Kelechi who took his chance when it came to push himself back in the manager’s plans.
”It’s great for Kel, because he’s been outside of the squad, let alone the team, just recently,” Davies told reporters postmatch, Soccernet.ng can confirm.
”But he’s been working hard in training, the manager has given him an opportunity tonight and he’s come in and he’s not been on the pitch for long but he’s made an impact.
”He’s scored, he’s pressed the game well, he showed a good hunger, a good appetite, and it’s an instinctive finish to chip the goalkeeper.”
Iheanacho’s Leicester City teammates were delighted to see the Nigerian get off the mark even though he missed some goalscoring opportunities before ending his poor run.
”(The squad) were pleased for him. He works hard in training, he’s got the right mentality, so everyone was pleased for him to get that.
”He had a couple of half-chances leading up to that that hadn’t quite gone in, so you just hoped he could get himself a goal. We’re very pleased for him.”
