Tielemans, Maddison Back Iheanacho To Replace Injured Vardy

The Leicester City supply line have backed Kelechi Iheanacho to fill Jamie Vardy’s boots should the number nine be sidelined with injury.

Vardy is to have a scan after a “twinge in his glute” saw him substituted in the first half of City’s 4-1 win over West Ham on Wednesday.

The injury is not a hamstring pull, as it first appeared, and City are hopeful their star striker will be back quickly.

But, if not, Iheanacho has shown he is an able stand-in, and the Nigerian forward has been backed by the two midfielders who will be feeding him: Youri Tielemans and James Maddison.

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After replacing Vardy against the Hammers, Iheanacho played a significant role in the victory, winning the penalty that Ayoze Perez converted before teeing up the Spaniard for the points-securing fourth goal.

Iheanacho now has six goals and three assists in 11 appearances this season, and Tielemans knows he can get more.

The Belgian said: “We are sad about the two players who came off [Vardy and Papy Mendy], but we got Wilf [Ndidi] back and that’s important as well.

“We created a lot of chances from everywhere, from our wingers, and from Kelechi who came on. Everything was positive.

“Jamie has his type of play, but Kelechi performed very well. He has his qualities of course, but he fits very well in the team, and we have to play with his qualities. Kelechi is a very good striker and we can use him for the rest of the season.

“We know Jamie is maybe a bit different.”

Maddison added: “It’s two vital players, two players in the spine of the team, when you have the holding midfielder and the striker [go off injured].

“And especially when you lose a striker like Jamie Vardy. He’s been the best striker in the Premier League this season, so to lose him was a big loss, but Kelechi’s also been in great form whenever he’s played over the past few months.

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“That just shows the quality and the depth in the squad we’ve got here at the minute.

“Hopefully they can get back quickly, because we need them, they’re important players and we’ve got a lot of games coming.

“But the lads that came in did fantastic and it just shows we’re all on the same page, whether it’s substitutes or starters.”

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