Jamie Carragher: Kelechi Iheanacho will be Leicester's new Jamie Vardy

Kelechi Iheanacho ‘was the best player on the pitch by a long way’, says Jamie Carragher after his superb goal and assist in win over Crystal Palace… and Sky pundit thinks Leicester have finally found Jamie Vardy’s replacement

  • Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning goal as Leicester beat Crystal Palace 2-1 
  • The result gives the Foxes a seven-point lead in the Champions League race
  • Jamie Carragher claims Iheanacho is the Foxes’ Jamie Vardy replacement
  • The Nigerian has now scored 14 goals in his last 14 games in all competitions 

Jamie Carragher believes Kelechi Iheanacho can be Leicester City’s long-term solution when Jamie Vardy moves on from Leicester in the coming years. 

The Nigerian striker is in the form of his career at the moment as his winner in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace continued a run of 14 goals in his last 14 matches in all competitions and kept the Foxes on course for the Champions League. 

Former England striker Vardy, who has 15 goals this season, did not find the net at the King Power Stadium on Monday night but Carragher claims 24-year-old striker Iheanacho could be the future for the Foxes.

Jamie Carragher says Kelechi Iheanacho (left) can be Jamie Vardy’s (right) long-term replacement at Leicester City

Iheanacho scored the winning goal as the Foxes beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Monday night

Speaking about Monday’s match-winner, the former Liverpool defender told Sky Sports: ‘He was the best player on the pitch by a long way. 

‘For so long this team, Leicester have been spoken about as a Jamie Vardy team. If Vardy’s injured Leicester will struggle or what about (when Vardy leaves) in two or three years time? How will they replace him? 

‘And you look at him (Iheanacho) right now, he’s been there a few years, it hasn’t worked out, he cost £25m to £30m, but he’s shown what he’s about.’

Carragher (above) believes the Foxes have finally found a short and long-term option for Vardy

Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester had to come from behind to claim victory on Monday as Wilfried Zaha continued his fine form against the Foxes by slotting home a counter-attack in the first-half.

But Leicester looked rejuvenated after the break and found an equaliser five minutes after half-time when Iheanacho teed up defender Timothy Castagne to fire home.

Roy Hodgson’s Eagles nearly took the lead again afterwards when Jairo Riedewald broke clear and tried to tee up Christian Benteke for a tap-in – only for Leicester defender Jonny Evans to slide in for match-saving tackle.

Iheanacho is in sensational form for Leicester having scored 14 goals in his 14 matches

And Palace were made to rue that missed chance when Iheanacho took down a long ball forward with an expert touch, before curling home past Vicente Guaita via the crossbar. 

The result leaves Rodgers’ Foxes seven points clear of fifth-placed West Ham and firmly in the top four. 

Leicester face Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea in their final three matches of the season but Carragher claims victories in their next two games against Southampton and Newcastle could seal Champions League football for next season. 

Carragher believes Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes have nearly secured Champions League football

Carragher added: ‘I think Leicester needed to win the games they’re supposed to and they’ve done that in last couple of games. 

‘Everyone has been looking, they’ve been looking at the last three games. They may not need those three games at the end of the season. Maybe the fixture list might just go in their favour.

‘They deserve to be there. I believe that. He (Rodgers) is still overachieving with this team, this is not the third best squad in the league and that’s the good job the man’s doing.’




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