After gaining several plaudits in recent weeks for good performances in the younger City sides, Kelechi Iheanacho has talked to Manchester Evening News about his first season on the blue half of Manchester.
We all got our first glimpses of Iheanacho – or “Nacho”, as he came to be known – in pre-season, when he joined up with the first team for friendlies in the United States. He scored his first goal in the 4-1 drubbing of Sporting Kansas City, before scoring against AC Milan in a 5-1 win in the International Champions’ Cup. He stayed in the minds of City fans following that, but wasn’t able to train with the first team following pre-season due to work permit issues, having to settle with staying and training with Columbus Crew in America until he turned 18.
Once he managed to obtain one and earn the chance to play for City, he injured himself very early into his debut for the under-21 side in February, ruling him out until recently. Now, he’s scored three in four games, and is being tipped for a place in the first team squad next year.
Speaking to Manchester’s premier paper, Kelechi said “it’s been a hard year but players have injuries and they recover. I’m grateful that I’m fully fit now to help City.”
“I’ve had a great time at City. Great people, great fans, great everything. Everyone has been good to me.”
The 18-year-old jets off to New Zealand at the end of the month, as he faces the test of the under-20 World Cup with Nigeria. Many will be hoping he can kick on from that, and have a good season next year – be that at City, or somewhere else (although there have been reports he rejected the chance to go on loan in favour of challenging for a first-team place).
