Kelechi Iheanacho looks set to make his first appearance for Leicester City when they take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Friday (today) in one of their biggest games of the 2023/24 Championship season.
The 27-year-old who missed the Foxes’ defeat to Middlesbrough last Saturday was named in the matchday squad for the game against Leeds after returning from the African Cup of Nations last week.
A win for Enzo Maresca’s men will be a huge statement of intent in their bid to seal immediate promotion back to the Premier League while a defeat will see Leicester City’s lead at the top cut to six points.
Speaking ahead of the game, Maresca said, “Kele (Iheanacho) just arrived from international duty and has worked with us for some days. He is in the squad but we will make the right decision for the next game.”
The coach also ruled out the possibility of rotating his attack for the remaining games till the end of the season.
In the first four months of the season, Maresca rotated between Jamie Vardy and Iheanacho, rarely starting the same player three games in a row and usually substituting one for the other each game.
“It’s impossible now there are just 14 games,” he added.
“It’s not like it was at the start of the season when you have 46 games and can share. Now it’s just a matter of 14 games, so to share minutes will be very difficult.”
Meanwhile, his compatriot, Wilfred Ndidi remains out and isn’t expected to return to action until early April. The Nigerian midfielder played a key part in Leicester’s sizzling start to the season but hasn’t featured since the 2-0 away win at Cardiff in December.
