Leicester City attacker, Kelechi Iheanacho has received a massive charge from the club’s coach, Claude Puel to ensure he nets a goal in Friday’s English Premier League opener against Manchester United.
Iheanacho enters the game at Old Trafford on the back of four goals in three pre-season matches, but Puel says all that would amount to nothing if the former Manchester City whiz kid cannot replicate same form against The Red Devils on Friday.
Iheanacho has been in rich vein of scoring form for Leicester City in pre-season bagging four goals in three games and has been widely tipped to lead the Foxes’ attack in the absence of Jamie Vardy, who only resumed training on Monday.
Puel said he was pleased with his team’s character to recover from an early setback in the 2-1 victory over Lille Metropole of France, and singled out Iheanacho for special praises due to his performance and goal in the game.
The Foxes’ boss said: “We know a friendly game is always different. Of course, I am happy about his performance and the performance of the other players.
“He is focused. He made a good performance, but the most important thing is to present against Manchester United.
“It has been a difficult pre-season with all the international players coming back step by step and without the good levels and freshness necessary to play 90 minutes.
“We will see against Manchester United in the first game. It is a problem to find the good balance and the strong team to play the whole game.
“I am happy about our character to do that and to score some very nice goals. And also to keep the result at the end.
“It is a little difficult to prepare a game for Manchester United without all the solutions. I will try to pick a team to make a good performance.
“I am happy with our condition. It was a tough game against a good opponent, quick, comfortable on the ball and playing with a good intensity.
“Normally, when we start like this with a bad performance it is difficult to get back into the game. We have different questions about some of the players. We will see.”
