Need the latest Foxes transfer news? Get FREE email alerts for Leicester City FC Sign up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

It's been another season to forget so far for Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who remains without a goal since September.

The 22-year-old striker joined City for a reported fee of £25 million from Manchester City in 2017 and his Foxes career is still yet to get going.

A season-and-a-half after arriving at the King Power Stadium, Claude Puel and the Blue Army are running out of patience with their once-billed 'new star striker'.

So what's gone wrong for the former Manchester City wonder-kid?

Why City shelled out £25 million

Iheanacho joined Leicester City from Manchester City for a reported fee of £25 million in 2017 and at the time, he was still being billed as one of the Premier League's brightest up and coming talents. Man City actually had to battle off plenty of other interested clubs to sign him in 2014 following his terrific performance in the 2013 under-17 World Cup.

He had impressed at Manchester City, scoring eight in 26 during his first full season in the first team with 19 of those outings being from the bench, and then scoring four and assisting three in 20 appearances, 15 of which were off the bench.

It's true that Iheanacho wasn't seen as a superstar striker, the sort of which you need to be to displace Sergio Aguero and co, but he was certainly viewed as a striker who would go on to have a successful Premier League career.

As a youngster at Manchester City, he showed a great attitude, coming off the bench and putting in very decent displays, and he he appeared hungry to continue his development when Leicester City came knocking, looking to invest some of their Champions League earnings in 2017.

On paper, it was a bold yet potentially shrewd move from City who had, and still have, youth at the forefront of their mind.

First season form

During his first season with the Foxes, Iheanacho made 21 appearances with 14 of those coming off the bench, something he might have expected given City largely go with one striker.

At 20 years of age, he wasn't about to displace Vardy barring a real purple patch in front of goal.

Such a purple patch eluded him early on, and it's really been the story ever since, albeit most of his appearances have come from the bench.

During his first season in the East Midlands, Iheanacho scored three goals in 21 appearances, also setting up three.

He averaged just 1.3 shots per game, netting a goal on average every 9.6 shots.

His first season didn't go down too well given the fee paid for his services.

This season's form

The Nigerian international is now in his second season with the Foxes, and his form hasn't improved, in fact, it has deteriorated even further.

He came into the campaign in fine form, scoring four goals in three pre-season games after returning from World Cup commitments in Russia with Nigeria.

However, that pre-season form hasn't translated to the Premier League.

Iheanacho has scored just one goal in his 22 appearances this season -13 of those outings have come via the bench.

He has managed four assists, but in terms of goals, he's still not delivering on his £25 million price tag.

The 22-year-old has averaged just 0.7 shots per game this season and has an average of a goal every 869 minutes.

He's in the bottom 10 players in the Premier League in terms of average rating, based on WhoScored stats, accumulating a performance average of 6.28 per game.

Why isn't Iheanacho firing?

It's the £25 million question.

The youngster has the perfect opportunity to install himself as City's main man this season with star striker Jamie Vardy struggling in front of goal.

But he just hasn't taken the bait.

It's always difficult to affect games off the bench, but to have scored just one goal in 22 appearances is very poor.

A goal every 869 minutes is not what Leicester City ordered when they took a chance on the former Manchester City starlet in 2017, and that's the way the fans feel, too, greeting his introduction to games from the bench with disappointment and the occasional boo.

It's not for lack of talent. Iheanacho is a very good football player, he showed that at Manchester City, and he's shown it in glimpses in the East Midlands.

He scored with a superb finish in the win over Huddersfield earlier in the season, striking across goal from the edge of the box.

It's that kind of predator-like ability we have to see more of.

It was never going to come overnight. City may have paid big bucks, but they knew it would take time, they knew they were investing in a project.

If they wanted a striker for here and now, they would have gone and bought someone older, someone established.

That's not what the club wanted, and as such, they will have to show patience in Iheanacho and hope that he fulfils his potential, still being just 22 years of age, of course.

The issue is, it's unlikely to come via the bench.

Fixing the problem

The Foxes are going to have to put faith in the youngster and start him in games if they want him to come up with the goods.

Confidence is clearly an issue and Claude Puel isn't helping the Nigerian's case.

Puel dropped Vardy for the trip to Tottenham in a bid to try something new, and instead of giving his back-up striker an opportunity, he started winger Demarai Gray up front.

What does that do for a 22-year-old striker who is already low on confidence?

Just as he thinks he might get an opportunity, he's essentially told that the manager would rather play someone out of position that giving him a chance.

It's also something Iheanacho must take responsibility for himself, to a certain extent.

He has to do better, to grab the bull by the horns and show Leicester City their investment wasn't a poor one.

He's gone backwards over the last year, but at the same time, the manager has to show him faith, he has to fill the youngster full of confidence if he wants to see results - that much is clear.

From Iheanacho's point of view, he has to show desire, he has to earn his place in a team that needs a little help. This is the time to stand up, put in performances and win over the fans who need someone to put a smile on their face.

This may be the best opportunity Iheanacho gets to prove his worth, but first he will have to break out of this torrid vein of form and a goal drought dating back to last September.

Failure to do so, and he will join Islam Slimani in becoming Leicester City's next £20million+ flop.