How Leicester's system change has brought out the best in Iheanacho

It wasn’t that long ago that Kelechi Iheanacho’s Leicester City future was being debated. The 26-year-old was out of favour at the King Power Stadium and with his current deal up in 2024, it felt like his time with the Foxes might be coming to an end.  

Brendan Rodgers went as far as to explain the reasoning behind the limited minutes for his No. 14, claiming he didn’t suit his system during an interview in early January. 

He [Iheanacho] has played better in a two, rather than up there on his own. Kel’s a specific type of striker. When I have gone for pace, which I normally have through the central area, it’s been Patson [Daka] or Vards [Jamie Vardy] who I’ve played." 

A little over a month later, it is hard to imagine this Leicester attack without the former Manchester City man.  

He put in a devastating performance in the 4-1 win over Spurs, a game in which he earned an 8.94 WhoScored rating having scored and assisted in the comprehensive victory against Antonio Conte’s side. This occurred a week after the 44-cap Nigeria international involved himself in three goals during the 4-2 triumph over Aston Villa.  

Days prior to that victory over Unai Emery’s team, Iheanacho was the match-winner off the bench during the 1-0 FA Cup win over Walsall. In fact, he’s been the difference-maker in both of Leicester’s FA Cup matches this season, scoring the only goals against Walsall and Gillingham.  

Iheanacho’s record in the Premier League as a starter this term currently stands at three starts, three goals and three assists. It would take a monumental effort for the left-footed forward to eclipse the 12 goals he managed across 1,460 minutes during the 2020/21 campaign, but, in this form, he might get close to it if Rodgers continues to give him opportunities.  

There have been a number of false dawns for Iheanacho since his £25m move to Leicester in 2017. When he signed, the assumption was that he would eventually succeed Vardy as the main man in the attack at the King Power. Though he’s had moments and periods in which he looked like the long-term heir to the No. 9, he’s never managed to sustain the level.  

It is likely one of the reasons why the Foxes moved to bring Patson Daka in 2021 for a nearly identical fee. The former Red Bull Salzburg man has been the first port of call for Rodgers if Vardy wasn’t available.  

People queried Iheanacho’s level, but everything seems to point towards him not being the best fit for the tactics at the time. Rodgers referenced the No. 14 needing a strike partner to be at his best but, as we have witnessed over recent weeks, he actually just needed movement ahead of him.  

The Leicester boss said as much after the 4-2 win over Villa.  

"He will run in behind but he's a fantastic link player. In order to do that, you need people to run beyond him. His quality is there. We now have the guys in the roles who can do that. I thought he was excellent last week and he's been very good in training." 

Leicester’s new-look attack suits Iheanacho and that is why he is leading the line. The Foxes added Tete to their attacking options in January and the on-loan Shakhtar Donetsk winger has slotted in seamlessly on the right-hand-side. With James Maddison operating as an attacking midfielder and Harvey Barnes making runs inside from the left, there is now a lot of movement in that forward line, and this marries up well with the skillset of the one-time Manchester City youngster.  

Against Spurs, Iheanacho has the highest Expected Assists total and the second-best Expected Goals tally behind Maddison. In the win over Villa, he, again, had the highest xA total while only Tete could boast a higher xG total.  

Granted, the sample size is not the largest and you shouldn’t read too much into these performances, it is hard to overlook just how influential Iheanacho has been since the introduction of Tete.  

Rodgers is in a fortunate position of having different strikers for different occasions. For the first time in his Leicester career, however, Iheanacho might be the main man for the Foxes. All because the system finally suits him.