Nigerian more prolific in first month of the year in Cup games
Kelechi Iheanacho is yet to score a Premier League goal in January and the Nigerian international forward will be desperate to rewrite this unwanted record when Leicester City visit St James’ Park Sunday afternoon for their Matchweek 17 tie against Newcastle United.
Iheanacho has been very prolific in the first month of the year in Cup games where he has scored nine out of his 10 FA Cup goals and two out of his eight League Cup goals but the Super Eagles star knows scoring in the Premier League gets more attention.
Until last January,the former Manchester City star has been making a false start in the new year.He has started just one out a possible five opening games of the year.He was not named in Manchester City squad on January 2,2016 when the Cityzens played Watford at the Vicarage Road stadium while in the following January,he was subbed on at the start of the second half against Burnley.
Iheanacho was an unused substitute when Leicester City annihilated Huddersfield Town at the King Power stadium on January 1,2018 and did not make the matchday squad the following January when the Foxes played Everton at Goodison Park.
The Nigerian however made his first New Year day start last year,featuring for 63 minutes in Leicester City’s 3-0 bashing of their host,Newcastle.
Today,the Foxes are up against Newcastle again and Iheanacho will be hoping to make a goalscoring statement and set the tone for what is to come later in the year.
If he starts,it will be his second in six games and if he scores,it will not only be his first in January and in the first game of the year but also his first for the 2020/21 campaign.
Iheanacho has made just two starts in eight appearances for Leicester City this term and the Nigeria international will be preoccupied with finding the back of the net and end his 12-game goal drought.