Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho scores, wins Man of the Match award

After been chosen and named the man of the match by supporters of Manchester City on Wednesday, when City beat Crystal Palace 5-1, the 19-year old Nigerian forward has shown he is serious about stamping his influence on the Man City team this term.

Iheanacho started his first match for the Citizens after six substitute appearances.
He started and completed 90 minutes against Palace and scored one goal whilst providing two assists.

And his manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said afterwards that Iheanacho’s performance did not surprise him at all.

“It was very important for Kelechi to demonstrate once again that he’s a very good player,” Pellegrini told the club’s official website.

“He’s not just a striker – he provided two assists – I’m very happy for him. He has things to improve but he’s working in the correct way.

“I had no doubt in him – I see how he works every day and his personality is important and it’s important for him to play with important players.

Iheanacho must improve control

“Kelechi is not a box striker, he’s not just a finisher – he must improve his control as he needs to do it better but he always plays with his head up as he showed creating the goal for Kevin [De Bruyne].

“After that, with more space for Manu Garcia. He’s a player who can play behind the striker or a striker and he can arrive into the box to score the goals as he did tonight.

Iheanacho’s record at City reads: Played 132 minutes, scored two goals with two assists.
Crystal Palace and their manager, Alan Pardew are definitely sick of the sight of the forward, who scored City’s lone goal in their first league meeting of the season on September 12 at Selhurst Park.

There has also been serious clamouring in the press that Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh, should invite him to the team although the coach of the U-23 team has extended an invitation to him for the Africa U-23 Championships.

But with the high esteem in which he is held at the Etihad, it would be surprising if he is released for that tournament, which is not listed in the FIFA calendar.