Manchester City: Kelechi Iheanacho deserves minutes even if they’re not at the Etihad

For his service to the club, Kelechi Iheanacho has earned a chance to impress on the pitch, even if it’s not for Manchester City.

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Amidst all the fanfare for Gabriel Jesus at Manchester City, another young talent has gotten lost in the shuffle — Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Nigerian was the backup to the great Sergio Aguero, but after Jesus’ arrival, Iheanacho dropped down the team sheet. He stayed there too, as all the talk about City’s strikers concerned whether Jesus supplanted Aguero, and if so, was the Argentine leaving the Etihad after the season.

And this is a shame.

Iheanacho has faithfully executed his role for both Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola. He’s a spark plug off the bench and an opportunistic finisher.

For those scrappy qualities, he deserves playing time. But due to the considerable talent ahead of him, he hasn’t seen much time under Guardiola in 2017. Even with Jesus nursing his ailing foot, Aguero has reasserted himself as invaluable to City’s attack, relegating Iheanacho to scrub duty like against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup.

Also, don’t forget Iheanacho is really the first player in recent years to graduate City’s burgeoning academy and find success with the senior squad. With the reputation of buying its talent instead of developing it, City’s 20-year-old striker was living proof against that claim. His integration into the first team shows the club’s commitment to nurturing world class talent on top of purchasing it in order to be a long-standing player in European club football.

Then the £27 million-Jesus came, and Iheanacho and what he represents was quickly forgotten. Don’t get me wrong: I’m a big fan of Jesus; he is the future for City. But there’s part of me that wishes both could thrive at City, especially when Aguero moves on. As things stand, I don’t think that could happen.

The point is Iheanacho has 21 goals in 58 appearances for the Citizens. He’s clearly good enough to play. So next season, I hope City lets him go on loan to further improve and hone his attacking capacities.

If not, I’d be content if City sold him so he could continue his career for a side that has true need of him, though it definitely shouldn’t be Arsenal nor some other domestic rival for the Premier League crown.

Next: Combined Best XI: Arsenal vs. Manchester City

Anyone who loves football, City supporter or otherwise, ought to get behind this idea: Iheanacho deserves to play, even if it’s not for City.