Leicester City

Exclusive: Keith Gillespie hails impact of “fantastic” Kelechi Iheanacho

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Image for Exclusive: Keith Gillespie hails impact of “fantastic” Kelechi Iheanacho

Speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol, former Leicester midfielder Keith Gillespie has hailed the impact of Kelechi Iheanacho by saying the striker looks a completely different player in recent months.

The former Manchester City frontman had played a bit-part role during the opening months of the campaign, and only scored his first Premier League goal of the season at Fulham in early-February.

But since netting in the victory at Craven Cottage, Iheanacho has scored 14 goals in all competitions, adding three assists – with no other player in the Premier League netting more during that period.

His outstanding goalscoring run has put Leicester on course to qualify for the Champions League, whilst his four goals in three FA Cup games, including the semi-final winner against Southampton, have seen the Foxes reach their first final for 52 years. It has also seen him win many plaudits, including from his former boss Pep Guardiola, who called him “incredible”.

Iheanacho has since been rewarded for his form with a three-year contract which he penned last month, with his previous deal expiring next summer.

And Gillespie praised the striker for stepping up in the absence of James Maddison, who has missed matches following a hip problem sustained in February.

He told This Is Futbol:

“He’s been fantastic. He just looks like somebody who’s got so much confidence now.

“You looked at the way Leicester played with Vardy and Maddison in behind him and couldn’t find a place for Iheanacho, and then suddenly, Maddison gets injured, and Iheanacho goes in behind Vardy.

“Iheanacho just looks like a different player now – skill, finishing, his touch, just everything. Getting that run of games has given him that confidence.”

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