Ndidi’s Return Boost Leicester To Instant Victory
Midfield dyanmo, Wilfred Ndidi, was on hand from start for the first time since September as Leicester trounced Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 at the King Power Stadium.
The tough-tackling midfielder had been sidelined with a groin injury for over two months before returning earlier this month after which he was gradually eased into games in the Europa League and Premier League.
Without Ndidi, Leicester have managed only two clean sheets in 9 league games and had conceded in each of their last 3 games.
After convincing Brendan Rodgers of his full fitness in three cameo appearances, he was rewarded with his first league start since his return and repaid his manager’s faith with a very commanding display in his team’s comfortable victory.
Ndidi was feared to have ceded his first-team place to French-man, Napilys Mendy, who deputised in the defensive midfield role in his absence, but any trepidation of that sort was allayed following a fine performance that saw him make two interceptions against Brighton, with no player making more.
He also appeared back to his ball-winning best, making two tackles, the second highest on the pitch, equating to 4 total ball recovery actions in the game. In comparison, the highest ball-recovery action Napilys Mendy has made in a single game is 5. Mendy eventually came on to replace Ndidi in the 80th minute.
En route to victory, James Madisson scored either side of a Jamie Vardy tap-in, the first time the midfielder has scored more than one Premier League goal in a single game.
The win was Leicester’s biggest win since the opening day of the season when they defeated West Brom by the same scoreline, a game that also featured Ndidi, although they have won by a three goal margin in several games with no clean sheet.
Nigerian forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, on the other hand, could only watch his teammates from the bench as they sent Leicester 3rd on the log, just one point behind leaders, Tottenham. It marked the sixth time he has been an unused sub in the league this season.