Kelechi Iheanacho scored again for Leicester City in their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, July 4, 2020. It was a vital goal for the Foxes which set them to their first win since project restart. 

It’s now two goals for Iheanacho in two games for Leicester City as he continues to show that he belongs at this level. 

We were having a different conversation about Iheanacho about seven months ago after he struggled to make any sort of impact following his £25m move from Manchester City. For two and a half seasons, the Nigerian looked out of place at Leicester City. It was different managers and the same story for the 23-year-old. 

In those two and a half seasons at Leicester City, Iheanacho looked like a player short on confidence and coupled with the instability at the club, he looked lost. 

The 2019/2020 season was always going to make or mar his career at the top level and six months into it, he wasn’t making any progress until Sunday, December 2, 2019, when he came off the bench to grab an assist and the winner as Leicester City edged Everton 2-1. 

That was quickly followed by a couple of goals and assists. In the next game after the win against Everton, his first Premier League start of the season, he created a goal and scored another as Leicester City beat Aston Villa 4-1 away. He also went on to score three goals in three games against Aston Villa, and also goals against West Ham and Brentford.

Since Project restart, Iheanacho has looked lively anytime he has been called into action. He scored after he came off the bench at halftime in their 2-1 loss away at Everton. And with Leicester City running low on confidence after four games without a win since the Premier League resumed action, it was the Nigeria international that broke the deadlock in their 3-0 home win against Crystal Palace. 

This season, he now has five league goals, his best return since he scored eight goals for Manchester City in the 2015/2016 season. 

He still hasn’t gotten the full trust of Brendan Rodgers, but with his goal against Palace and his performances since December 2019, Iheanacho continues to show that he has the abilities to thrive at this level. 

With his confidence back, his dribbling has gotten better, he holds the ball better and his passing has improved. 

Since that goal and assist in December against Everton, Iheanacho has contributed massively in key moments for Leicester City. He was their best player in League Cup semi-finals where they lost to Aston Villa and has continued to make an impact in key moments in the league where they are set for a Champions League spot finish. 

No matter what happens with him now, whether he stays at Leicester City after this season or not, Iheanacho has shown that he can thrive at this level and that will be a huge boost for his career.