The forward was left out by Brendan Rodgers against Sheffield United in what was a huge statement by the Foxes boss regarding the forward’s importance
While all Nigeria supporters have had opinions about Kelechi Iheanacho's decline in recent years, few will disagree that the forward’s stock has fallen in the last few years.

His current status is a far cry from the forward who’d been destined for greatness after breaking out at Manchester City in the summer of 2015 under Manuel Pellegrini. At the end of the 2015/16 campaign, the then-City man had the best goals-to-minutes ratio in the division, and was constantly being compared with prodigious Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford.

While neither have developed as their form from four years ago suggested, the Englishman is, largely, Man United’s main striker while Iheanacho threatens to disappear into oblivion.

When he moved to Leicester City in the summer of 2017 for £25 million, the Foxes took the plunge for the Nigeria international given their belief in his potential and desire to see him move to the next level at Belvoir Drive.

“It’s a great signing for us. Kelechi is an enormously talented player that has shown a huge amount of promise at every level in which he’s played,” then Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare asserted.

“We’ve tracked his progress for some time, so we know how much quality he’ll bring to the squad. He’s young, he’s hungry, he’s ready for the next stage of his development and I’m delighted that will be with Leicester City.”


Manchester City reportedly have a buyback option for the frontman but he, as it stands, doesn’t seem any closer to returning to the Premier League champions. Frankly, the forward isn’t likely to have the top sides in England and Europe lining up to steal him from the East Midlands club if he’s made available for a transfer.

Ostensibly, Iheanacho’s current status at the club is unclear, but his recent omission from last weekend's squad to play Sheffield United at Bramall Lane was damning.

While he hadn’t received any match action in the first two games – against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea – the encounter against the league’s new boys presented the best chance to get his first minutes of the campaign, however, Brendan Rodgers didn’t see the need to involve the 22-year-old in any capacity.

In truth, as regards the player’s chances of playing, the writing was on the wall for Iheanacho after the summer signing of Ayoze Perez from Newcastle United. While the Spanish attacker has been played out wide in his appearances for Rodgers’ troops, the expectation is that the former Magpies man will get the nod at the Nigerian’s expense if the need to rest undisputed number one forward Jamie Vardy does spring up.


Recent comments by Robert Huth regarding the prospect of having the former Man City man lead the line further highlights just how badly he’s valued at the moment.

“With Iheanacho, he hasn’t done it yet [proven to be a capable Vardy replacement], probably doesn’t look like he’s going to either, so I’m surprised they haven’t invested in that,” Huth told BBC Radio 5 Live [via Leicester Mercury].

“Eventually they are going to have to replace Vardy. I’m a little bit surprised they didn’t get in someone to kick him up the backside.”

The Super Eagle has really never got going at the King Power and it’s affected his international involvement as well, with Gernot Rohr omitting him from the final 23 that represented the West African nation at the Africa Cup of Nations. The fact that his inclusion in the provisional squad was met with criticism was additional evidence to his decline in recent years.

Hard to justify Iheanacho's place here. Literally nothing has changed in his situation at Leicester since he was dropped during the last international window.

Has to be last chance saloon for him at this point.

England is not good for most Nigerian footballers, he should go to France, Germany, Italy or Turkey and watch his career rise again

The dude needs a better Manager seem he's short of ideas
Nacho needs to move out of England and he will see his career rise again

Truthwords:
England is not good for most Nigerian footballers, he should go to France, Germany, Italy or Turkey and watch his career rise again

The same England that Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Osazee Odemwingie, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo and a host of other Nigerians all flourished?
You can't always blame the 'pitch' for your failures. The first step to rising up from a fall is to acknowledge your faults and map out the way forward.

oloriooko:
The dude needs a better Manager seem he's short of ideas
Nacho needs to move out of England and he will see his career rise again

my thoughts too, he needs to move out ASAP

He's jus like most Nigerian footballers, lacks ambition and cares more about his paycheck... No ambitious footballer is content sitting on d bench for too long and no serious footballer is content with not even being on d managers plans... He is supposed to be asking for a move or forcing a move elsewhere... If U can't adapt as a footballer, U try and fit in to anoda role and if U can't find anoda system dat works for U... Fabian Delph was a midfielder but adapted to playing left back for Man city.. Van Persie wasn't always a striker.. Kolo Toure wasn't always a defender.. Iheanacho is a lazy ass player period

thesicilian:

The same England that Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Osazee Odemwingie, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo and a host of other Nigerians all flourished?
You can't always blame the 'pitch' for your failures. The first step to rising up from a fall is to acknowledge your faults and map out the way forward.

SIMPLE ENGLISHHHHHH. I said MOST of our Players not ALL of our players. Read my comment again properly

thesicilian:

The same England that Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Osazee Odemwingie, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo and a host of other Nigerians all flourished?
You can't always blame the 'pitch' for your failures. The first step to rising up from a fall is to acknowledge your faults and map out the way forward.

its better he moves out of the team, unfortunately the english transfer window has closed, the best thing will be to go and revive his career somewhere else.

Truthwords:
England is not good for most Nigerian footballers, he should go to France, Germany, Italy or Turkey and watch his career rise again

But their pay is too poor coupled with language barrier
I think Iheanacho's problems are;
1)Age cheat
2)Personal Training
3)Over flexing
4)Dieting

[quote author=otuekong1 post=81767321]
But their pay is too poor coupled with language barrier
I think Iheanacho's problems are;
1)Age cheat
2)Personal Training
3)Over flexing
4)Dieting[/quote ]2 & 3 are the problems with most Nigerian players and not just peculiar to ihenacho alone, thats why they hardly develop their career.

otuekong1:

But their pay is too poor coupled with language barrier
I think Iheanacho's problems are;
1)Age cheat
2)Personal Training
3)Over flexing
4)Dieting

2 & 3 are the problems with most Nigerian players and not just peculiar to ihenacho alone, thats why they hardly develop their career.

[quote author=tbabs10166 post=81775541][/quote]
poor pay? i refuse to agree! you are right about others

tbabs10166:
2 & 3 are the problems with most Nigerian players and not just peculiar to ihenacho alone, thats why they hardly develop their career.

I hope Ndidi doesnt become a victim of this