Why Iheanacho is a ‘nightmare’ for Schmeichel and how the Leicester striker has become so prolific

Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has described Kelechi Iheanacho as a nightmare in training.

Schmeichel is delighted that Iheanacho is now scoring regularly in matches and not just past him in training.

Iheanacho has been instrumental to the Foxes’ qualification for the final of the FA Cup where he scored vital goals especially against giants Manchester United.

Iheanacho bagged his 12th goal in nine games when he struck the winner against Crystal Palace, and Schmeichel explained after the victory that he is simply reproducing the form he shows on the training ground, where he is a “nightmare” to cope with.

“Training with Kele, you see it every single day,” Schmeichel said. “I think it was a case of him finding his feet here at Leicester and obviously having a massive figure like Jamie Vardy in front of you in the system we were playing was always going to be difficult for him.

Kasper Schmeichel and Kelechi Iheanacho in training

“Kele is incredibly intelligent when it comes to his finishing – he knows how to shift and shoot so quickly, he’s so good at the particular one where he shifts it and then puts it through the defender’s legs and wrongfoots the goalkeeper.

“He does it in training all the time. He’s a nightmare in training to be fair. He’s just a big strong lad who can put himself about, he’s fast, he’s got absolutely everything to be a top striker and he’s showing it now, which is great.”

The 24-year-old has been on the radar of top English sides including Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea

How has Iheanacho become so prolific?

Kelechi Iheanacho had to wait until 3 February for his first league goal of the season. Since then the Leicester City striker is the Premier League’s top goalscorer.

The turning point in Iheanacho’s Leicester City career has been starting alongside Vardy up front.

They only started eight games together last season and did not do so this campaign until 28 February – and even then it was only because of injuries to James Maddison and others. They have played every game together since.

Nigeria’s Iheanacho has scored 14 goals in his last 14 appearances, as many as he managed in his previous 76 for Leicester.

Only Harry Kane (18) has been involved in more goals than Iheanacho (15) among Premier League players in all competitions this year.

Iheanacho has shown a potency in front of goal recently rarely seen in his career.

His 10 Premier League goals this term outstrips his expected goals – the number of goals he would be expected to score from the chances he receives – by more than three goals, and his shot conversion rate is his highest since joining the Foxes.