There’s a perceived notion that Manchester City have no regard for their youth team and would much rather spend to fix their problems.
At Villa Park on Saturday that notion was totally dispelled an academy graduate scored a hat-trick, two others made their debuts and one had another run-out. £296 million – that’s the exact figure City have spent on strikers since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover with just three proving to be a success this season.
However with Sergio Aguero having his fair share of injury problems, a young striker signed and academy graduate signed for nothing may just prove to be the key difference maker for City in their quest for trophies.
Kelechi Iheanacho is the name on City fans lips this season and after his Man of the Match display at Villa Park on Saturday, opposition fans have now stood up and taken notice. There was more to his performance than just the three goals at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon, he posed the Villa defence constant problems with his pace, his link up play and movement off the ball.
He provided Raheem Sterling with an assist for the fourth goal and proved to be a nightmare to deal with for the beleaguered Villa back four. His three goals on Saturday epitomised him. Cool, calm, collected and ready to pounce on the slightest half chance that falls his way. Having just made five starts, incredibly Kelechi has eight goals and four assists to his name this season, scoring on average a goal every 44 minutes according to Squakwa. Iheanacho has staked a serious claim to be city’s second choice striker ahead of misfiring Wilfried Bony, and with his display at Upton Park and at Carrow Road alongside Sergio Aguero there have been calls for a return to 4-4-2 such was the impact made by the youngster.
The numbers however simply don’t do Iheanacho justice. His natural scoring prowess is just one facet of his game.
From his instinctive reactions to score the winning goal at Palace to his first goal yesterday where he pounced on a loose ball in the box, what has been most impressive is his youthful vibrancy, his pace and movement off the ball the intelligent tactical runs he’s made that has created space for others and dragged defenders out of place; qualities he has been displaying ever since his first appearance for the club in the Pre-season tour of the US in 2014.
These outstanding qualities were in full view in City’s win at Norwich and the draw at Upton Park last weekend. With Kevin De Bruyne injured in midweek and Samir Nasri not due back until March, it seems the time has come to give Iheanacho the chance show his burgeoning talent on the European stage and regularly in the Premier League. It must be noted a lot of credit must be given to Manuel Pellegrini despite the constant calls for Kelechi to play more often than not the Chilean has managed Kelechi’s game time quite well. He has not been overplayed and has been kept hungry and on his toes with the amount of chances he’s been given.
It’s easy at 19 to start believing your own hype, to get flustered and let the burden of expectations get to you however, the young Nigerian has proven to have an experienced head on his shoulders – continually wanting to improve his game, staying composed in front of goal and bidding his time and taking the chances that come his way.
In a day that saw four academy graduates complete the game the coaches at the CFA should rightly feel proud of course, there will be some that just won’t make it at City, however, we’ll never truly produce a conveyor belt of talent and produce gems like Kelechi if these youngsters aren’t afforded the chance.
