Kelechi Iheanacho has got to push on this season and prove he can replace Jamie Vardy at Leicester City as the England forward’s career winds down.
Leicester City may have fallen to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Friday but there certainly were a few positives they could leave Old Trafford with.
One of those was the performance of 21-year-old debutant James Maddison who, after his £22m arrival from Norwich City, immediately showed he could hang in the Premier League.
The other was the cameo of Jamie Vardy. Vardy wasn’t deemed fit enough to start after his late arrival to pre-season but his introduction on 63 minutes showed his influence on the side.
The 31-year-old created one chance through sheer work rate and scored the Foxes’ goal in injury time, showing once again how key he remains to Leicester City.
But that also highlighted how far Kelechi Iheanacho has to go if he wants to be Vardy’s long-term replacement at the King Power Stadium – a role he was surely signed to fill.
Leicester just didn’t look like the same side with the Nigerian leading the line; they lacked threat, drive, and the cutting-edge that Vardy gives a team.
The 21-year-old did find a couple of half-chances but was unable to capitalise – and he’ll need to turn that around this year.
Vardy will finish the season as a 32-year-old and it won’t be long before Leicester need to think about an alternative. Any replacement will have to step in fast; they simply can’t afford to wait and see if Iheanacho steps up and risk a dysfunctional side in the meantime.
If Iheanacho wants to make it at Leicester, this is his year to prove it.
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