Iheanacho's Pre-Sheffield United Optimism

First Team
13 Mar 2021
2 Minutes
Playing alongside Jamie Vardy in attack, Sheffield United's threats and Leicester City's recent form were all on the agenda as Kelechi Iheanacho looked ahead to tackling the Blades on Sunday.

- Kelechi Iheanacho previews Sunday's King Power Stadium clash with Sheffield United (2pm GMT kick-off)
- Leicester City go into the clash eight days after winning at Brighton & Hove Albion
- The third-placed Foxes should approach the fixture with belief, says in-form forward Kelechi Iheanacho
- City's No.14 also discusses the nature of his striking partnership with Jamie Vardy

The Foxes commence a 10-game run-in until the end of the 2020/21 campaign with the visit of the Blades to King Power Stadium on Sunday, currently occupying third place in the Premier League

Iheanacho, on the other hand, has been a vital figure for Leicester over recent weeks, scoring an equaliser at both Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, as City collected four points from successive fixtures on the road.

In both outings, the Nigeria international has started alongside Jamie Vardy, the Club's all-time top Premier League goalscorer, and Iheanacho admits it is a partnership which he enjoys participating in.

Collectively, as a team, we’re really playing well and doing well. The manager and his staff are really, really helping us to grow our football and they’re really good teachers.

Kelechi Iheanacho LCFC TV

"I love to play with Jamie," the 24-year-old told LCFC TV this week. "He creates a space for me to come in to pick the ball up, to make strides behind him, so I really like playing with Jamie.

"He gives me so many options on the pitch. We can score goals together, so I enjoy playing alongside him."

When City took on the Blades at Bramall Lane earlier this season, a last-gasp effort from Vardy was required to seal a 2-1 victory in Yorkshire, and Iheanacho anticipates a similarly difficult, if slightly different, challenge this time around.

"The last time we played them it was quite tough," he explained. "We came back and won the game in the last minute. This one is going to be a different game as well. They’re trying to get off the bottom of the table, so it’s going to be a tough game and a different game.

"We need to be ready to fight to get the points that we need."

While Leicester went two games without a victory - against Arsenal and Burnley - last weekend's success at Brighton represented City's 16th top-flight win this season and Iheanacho is keen for more.

"People might talk about our form, but I think we’re doing really well," the former Manchester City forward continued. "Collectively, as a team, we’re really playing well and doing well. The manager and his staff are really, really helping us to grow our football and they’re really good teachers.

"It's really tactical, technical and physical, so we’re happy with where we are at at the moment, but we need to keep going.

"We need to keep getting more points by taking it one game at a time. Hopefully we can win at the weekend and then we’ll focus on the next game."