The last time Kelechi Iheanacho hit a hot streak in front of goal, Leicester won the FA Cup and nearly qualified for the Champions League.
Two years later, Brendan Rodgers is hoping the Nigeria forward can repeat the trick by helping his side reach Wembley and stay in the Premier League.
Iheanacho has 17 goals in his last 23 matches in the FA Cup, with the latest enough to sink League Two club Walsall and put the Foxes in the fifth round. ‘Last time he did this, we won the FA Cup, so hopefully it’s an omen,’ said Rodgers.
Two seasons ago, Iheanacho scored 16 times in 20 matches in all competitions from February onwards, and Leicester need him to have a similar run. Jamie Vardy is likely to be absent for ‘a few weeks’ according to Rodgers after picking up a thigh injury in training, while Patson Daka is desperately out of form.
Leicester are close to agreeing a deal for Tete, the Brazil winger who is on loan at Lyon from Shakhtar Donetsk, but finding a regular goalscorer would help their cause no end.
Because while Leicester could breathe a sigh of relief after avoiding an upset, even though Youri Tielemans missed a penalty early in the second half, there is no respite on the horizon.
Rodgers’ men are only one point above the relegation zone and in February they meet Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League. On current form, they will do well to stay out of the bottom three after that run of games.
On current form, they will do well to stay out of the bottom three after that run of games.
Yet if Iheanacho comes alive, anything is possible. ‘There have been a couple of things off the field for him that we have had to manage but he has been fine,’ said Rodgers.
‘He will get more game time with Jamie Vardy out for a few weeks. He made a big impact and some players have that ability coming off the bench. When gets his chances he scores. He has made a great impact in the competition since I've been here.’
'When gets his chances he scores. He has made a great impact in the competition since I've been here.’
Maddison had running battles with a number of Walsall and was baited by the crowd. When Leicester did create chances, Daka failed to take them. The home side were hugely competitive but lacked calmness at key moments when they had the visitors on the back foot.
The home side were hugely competitive but lacked calmness at key moments when they had the visitors on the back foot.
Rodgers’ men had the perfect opportunity to take the lead early in the second half when Daka was tripped by Isaac Hutchinson, only for Youri Tielemans to strike his penalty against the base of the post.
Yet Iheanacho replaced Daka soon after the hour mark, with the Foxes also giving a debut to Danish defender Victor Kristiansen, who joined from FC Copenhagen this month.
And Iheanacho’s soon settled it when he collected Timothy Castagne’s pass on the edge of the box and aimed for goal, the deflection off Brandon Comley gave Owen Evans no chance.
‘You’d rather they had scored the penalty, or cut us open, or scored from 30 yards,’ lamented Walsall boss Michael Flynn. ‘You’d rather any of those than a deflected effort.
‘But Brendan Rodgers said some kind words – amazing words – about our team. I wish we had taken the chances we had created but I am proud of my players.’