Leicester boss praises heroic Iheanacho, worried about striker’s injury

LEICESTER City manager Dean Smith was happy with Kelechi Iheanacho’s contribution to the side’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United last night but concerned about a knock the Nigeria international sustained.

Iheanacho played a key part in Leicester City’s equaliser in the Premier League clash at Elland Road, managing to play a pass to James Maddison despite holding his groin in apparent pain.

Maddison then set up Vardy who finished off the 80th minute chance to earn Leicester City an important point in the battle to avoid relegation.

Smith praised all the players involved in the turnaround for Leicester City, including Iheanacho, who limped off moments after the equaliser, and Vardy, who scored his 169th goal for the club.

“Vards and Pato (Patson Daka) coming on, I thought we then starting penetrating with our football,” the caretaker manager explained during his post-match interview.

“We opened them a couple of times. Vards gets the goal. Kel [Iheanacho] did really well. Madders also did well.

“I’m really pleased for Vards to get his goal. It’s not been the most fruitful season for him, but what a time to go and get a goal. Hopefully that gives him the confidence for the run-in now. He’ll probably feel he should have got that other one too.

“Again, I’ve not seen it back, but it was ruled out for offside. Maybe Pato could have gone for goal himself, but he’s made a good chance there for Vards. I’m a tad disappointed. I feel like we’ve lost two points, but they’ve had two good chances at the end, so we could’ve lost the game we feel we should have won.”

Iheanacho was withdrawn for the Foxes after pulling up in the move which led to the equaliser, although Smith is waiting on scan results before diagnosing any injury.

“It’s too soon,” the former Aston Villa manager said. “He felt his groin and it didn’t look great, so we’ll have to wait until we get a scan on it.”

With the result, Leicester City moved out of the relegation places on goal difference to 17th, four points behind Leeds United, who are a spot above them.