Iheanacho’s Impressive Season In Numbers
It has been a season to remember for Kelechi Iheanacho, and numbers-wise, his best since a move from Manchester City in August 2017.
Coming into 2020/21 often deployed as an impact substitute, the Nigerian international soon became one of the first names on the Foxes' teamsheet, as Brendan Rodgers stuck with a 3-5-2 formation for the majority of the second half of the season.
Creating a lethal partnership with Jamie Vardy, who laid on several of the forward’s goals this term, he scored 19 times in all competitions, as well as registering seven assists.
Focusing on the Premier League, his tally of 12 goals in 25 games is bettered only by City’s talismanic No.9, who scored 15 across the season in total.
But it was in the UEFA Europa League that Iheanacho began his scoring exploits, finding the net for the first time in the 3-0 home victory over Zorya Luhansk on matchday one in October, before a double during the third group game – a 4-0 success at home to SC Braga.
Despite not scoring in the Premier League until early February, in a 2-0 win at Fulham, Iheanacho would soon embark on a run of goals which would push City back towards the upper echelons of the top-flight table.
The run began at Turf Moor at the start of March and a goal that was both stunning and significant in equal measure. With the Foxes trailing to Matěj Vydra's fourth-minute strike, City needed something special to get back into the game.
And that’s exactly what Iheanacho provided, set up exquisitely by international team-mate Wilfred Ndidi, who lofted the ball forward and the striker did the rest, connecting perfectly with it on the run to volley past a helpless Nick Pope in the Burnley goal.
A goal of genuine class, requiring a high level of skill and technique, it earned Leicester a point on the road. Clearly, it had also provided the Nigerian with the confidence boost required and just three days later, he was back amongst the goals.
Once again behind, this time to Brighton & Hove Albion at AMEX Stadium, Iheanacho latched on to a superb no-look pass from Youri Tielemans, making no mistake to clinically guide the ball into the net just after the hour mark.
Daniel Amartey then completed the comeback, heading home late on to ensure it would be four points from a possible six from two tricky away games and a 10th win of the season on the road.
Even better was to come from Iheanacho, however, when Sheffield United arrived at King Power Stadium the following week. His first-ever Leicester hat-trick fired the Foxes to their joint-biggest Premier League home win (5-0).
Five goals in his last three league games was certainly a notable record and a further two in the FA Cup seven days later made it seven in four games in all competitions.
After picking up the Premier League’s EA Sports Player of the Month award in March, he was also in the running for the same award in April after netting four top-flight goals during the month.
After signing a new contract on 3 April, 2021, which will keep him at the Football Club until at least 2024, two second half strikes away at West Ham United almost drew the Foxes level at London Stadium, while the third goal of a scintillating first-half display against West Bromwich Albion sealed back-to-back successes after the FA Cup Semi-Final triumph.
An even more telling contribution came in the next home Premier League fixture, versus Crystal Palace, which on a personal level, capped off a superb run of 12 goals in nine games.
With the score locked at 1-1 heading into the final 10 minutes, Jonny Evans played the ball into Iheanacho’s path and he leathered a sweet, left-footed strike into the roof of the net to snatch all three points.
It was a strike that would be nominated for the Premier League’s Budweiser Goal of the Month award and later win Goal of the Season in the Club’s End of Season Awards.
His final two goals of the season would ultimately come in defeats to Newcastle United and Chelsea, but there’s no doubting Iheanacho’s importance to, and influence on, the campaign.
The striker also made a huge impact during the Foxes’ history-making Emirates FA Cup journey, scoring a last-gasp winner at King Power Stadium to seal progression into the quarter-finals at the expense of Brighton.
He more than made his mark in the last eight tie against Manchester United. Nipping in to break the deadlock in the first half, Iheanacho then wrapped up another cup victory with his second - and Leicester’s third - late on.
Yet again, he was the man of the moment during the Wembley semi-final against Southampton, netting the only goal of the game from a Vardy cross to reach the showpiece event.
The 24-year-old would play his part in the final, too, featuring for 67 minutes of a historic occasion as Leicester lifted the FA Cup trophy for the very first time.
Tielemans’ stunning strike was the difference against Chelsea and Iheanacho claimed his first piece of silverware since joining the Club.