Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first Premier League hat-trick in his club, Leicester City’s 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United in a Premier League matchweek 27 tie at the King Power stadium to take his total tally in the campaign so far this term to six from 16 games. It was also another historic moment for the Nigerian who scored for the third consecutive Premier League game for the first time since he made his debut in the competition in August 2015.
Iheanacho has now scored 27 Premier League goals in 133 appearances and his goals return so far this season has eclipsed his best tally of five he achieved last term and just two goals shy of his best season’s tally of eight he achieved as a Manchester City player in his debut season,2015/16.
Sunday’s hat-trick was the Nigerian’s second since he moved to England after helping Nigeria to a FIFA U-17 World Cup win in 2013.He scored his first hat-trick in a FA Cup game in his first season in England.
The former Golden Eaglets forward scored twice in the first half and added another in the second half to help Manchester City destroy Aston Villa 4-0 in a fourth round tie at the Villa Park.
Since then, the closest Iheanacho had come to scoring thrice in all competitions were his two braces in the FA Cup wins over Fleetwood and Peterbrough in the 2018/19 season, twice in the Premier League against Stoke City and Southampton in the 2015/16 season and once in the Europa League this term when he scored and assisted in the 4-0 thrashing of Portuguese side, Braga in a Group G game at King Power stadium.
Iheanacho has now scored 30 times in all competitions for the Foxes in 116 appearances.
Meanwhile the Super Eagles star has been rated exceptional and given 10 out of 10 by the influential Leicester Mercury after the game. The newspaper also rated Iheanacho’s Nigerian compatriot at the club, Wilfred Ndidi who for the second time in three games assisted the Nigerian to score.
”Exceptional. Two of his three goals were simple finishes for a striker of his calibre, but he had to make the right runs to profit, and his timing was impeccable. His third goal was a stunner, while he set up two gilt-edged chances for Vardy too. Could have had more, but this was a memorable performance. 10,’ wrote the newspaper about Iheanacho’s performance while Ndidi was rated 8 out of 10.
”Snapped at the heels of Blades’ midfielders to nab the ball high up the pitch, while always made sure to offer an outlet to Iheanacho when he had his back to goal. Mostly left the more adventurous passes to others. 8,’ the newspaper wrote about Ndidi.