Kelechi Iheanacho’s Goal Per Minute Record Proves He Is Not Just One For The Future In Manchester City .

Kelechi Iheanacho became the best finisher (judging by his goal-per- minutes ratio) in Premier League history on Boxing Day after scoring in the 3-0 win against Hull City as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester remain seven points adrift of table toppers Chelsea.
The Nigerian striker who is just 20 year-old has been so prolific that City handed him a new contract in October which keeps him at the club until the summer of 2020 which will also see him pocket £80,000 weekly. Used mostly as a substitute considering the impressive form of Sergio Aguero, the Nigerian international has netted six times in 17 games across all competitions this season which is impressive if you consider he rarely starts even when Aguero is injured or missing as Guardiola sometimes goes for either of Nolito or Kelvin De Bruyne in a false 9 attacking system.
Signed from a Nigerian academy in the winter of 2014 after winning the Golden Boot having scored six goals and provided a further seven assists as Nigeria clinched the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates, the striker have grown from strength to strength becoming an unsung hero in the Manchester City side. Iheanacho tops a rich and illustrious list that has the likes of Thierry Henry, Chicharito, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero as his a goal in every 96 minutes topples his Argentine teammate and record holder’s a goal in every 107 minutes.
Iheanacho had his breakthrough season under Chilean Manuel Pellegrini who discarded Bosnia captain Eden Dzeko making the youngster Aguero’s understudy and club’s second choice. As already known, the youngster did not disappoint as he notched up 14 goals in 36 games across all competitions which is even more impressive if one considers that he played 25 of those games as a substitute. This season, the striker has picked up from where he left judging from his 12 goals from 19 shots on target in his 38 career league games for Manchester City.
“Kelechi is a natural goalscorer. I knew about him before, but I’ve been really impressed with him since I arrived. I like his personality, his attitude, his ability. ”
“We (coaching crew in Manchester City) will help him reach the highest level and to realise his full potential,” were Pep Guardiola’s words after taking over at Manchester City in the summer. While he is still far from a finished product it should be noted that the striker only made his debut a year ago (August 2015). With a delicate left foot and an eye for goal coupled with his anticipation to run into the box and finish off chances, Iheanacho is currently the best player in the Premier League under the age of 20 having delivered in his second season unlike his age mates who are struggling with game time and the pressure that comes with playing at the highest level with Manchester United’s Rashford coming to mind.
Though it is still too early to predict how his future will play out, there is no denying the fact that even when £27 million Brazilian striker signing Gabriel Jesus joins City in the winter, the Nigerian will surely be able to mix it up at any level having successfully done that in a star packed Manchester City for some time now.
Stats powered by Opta.