Iheanacho injury giving Foxes boss headache

Leicester City coach, Dean Smith, has admitted Kelechi Iheanacho’s injury in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Leeds, “didn’t look great”, with the Nigerian set for a scan set to reveal the extent of his groin injury.

Iheanacho suffered the injury in the build-up to Jamie Vardy’s equaliser, the Nigerian gripping his groin as he ran through but still managing to thread a pass forward to James Maddison as he went down.

Smith said in his post-match press conference, “He’s pulled up with his groin. Well, I say pulled up, he kept going and played it through to Madders. It didn’t look great and we’ll have it scanned tomorrow.”

Iheanacho had started the game as City’s lead striker, with Vardy and Patson Daka dropping to the bench. He set up the good chances for Harvey Barnes and Maddison in the first half, and then was twice denied by Illan Meslier in the second period.

After his injury, as he was being helped off the pitch by the City medical staff, he fired up the away fans, urging them to keep backing the team for the final 10 minutes.

If his injury is serious, it will be a blow to City and Smith. Iheanacho had scored in each of the new manager’s first two games in charge against Manchester City and Wolves, and trails only Barnes and Maddison in the club’s scoring charts.

Speaking earlier in the week about his first impressions of Iheanacho, Smith said: “He really enjoys football and he cares. You could see that from his body language right from the first moment. He’s another robust character. What I’ve seen I’ve liked so far.”

Iheanacho has found the net in two of his last three matches in the Premier League to take his goal involvements for the season to 12 this season.

Leicester City are back in Premier League action next Monday when they face Alex Iwobi’s Everton in a relegation six-pointer at the King Power Stadium.