Iheanacho nominated for Premier League award

Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, has been nominated along with seven other players for the English Premier League Player of the Month award for March.

The Nigeria international got a rare chance to impress manager Brendan Rodgers in the absence of the injured James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.

He grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he scored five goals in his three Premier League appearances in March.

The Foxes No.14 was productive going forward, netting 62.5 per cent of the goals scored by Leicester in the league and helped the club to two wins and one draw.

Iheanacho began the month with a crucial equaliser against Burnley as the Foxes were held 1-1 at the Turf Moor Stadium.

He scored another equaliser against Brighton in the Foxes 2-1 win at the Falmer Stadium, before netting his first EPL hat-trick in a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United at The King Power Stadium.

On why the 24-year-old was shortlisted, the Premier League website wrote, “The Nigerian striker stepped up in the absence of injured James Maddison and Harvey Barnes in style, with his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United among his five goals in March.”

Competing with Iheanacho for the monthly accolade are Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen, Tottenham Hotspur’s captain Harry Kane , Jesse Lingard, who is on loan at West Ham United from Manchester United, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, Illan Meslier (Leeds United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United) and Brighton’s Leandro Trossard.

Iheanacho will be hoping to join Austin Okocha, Osaze Odemwingie and Odion Ighalo as the only Nigerians to have won the Premier League Player of the Month awards.

NP/Confidence Okwuchi