‘I have come up quick’: Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho now Man City’s indispensable Plan B

Richard Jolly reports on Nigeria's Kelechi Iheanacho and his fast-rising status at Manchester City, where he could very well be the X-Factor in Sunday's League Cup final.

Kelechi Iheanacho has scored nine goals in 23 appearances for Manchester City this season, mostly as a substitute. Glyn Kirk / AFP / September 12, 2015

It is a high-stakes game against elite opponents. They have already beaten Manchester City 4-1 once this season. They are a goal ahead in the rematch.

Manuel Pellegrini turns to his bench in his search for a rescuer. He introduces Kelechi Iheanacho. A matter of minutes later, the teenager rifles in an unstoppable shot.

It is a plausible script for the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. It actually happened two weeks ago. Tottenham Hotspur eventually beat City but only after an influential intervention from Iheanacho.

Now Liverpool should be wary of Pellegrini’s impact substitute.

“If I start it is fine but if I am a substitute I will just wait to get a go,” said the striker. The 19-year-old Nigerian is at such an embryonic stage in his career where being involved in a final, even as a replacement, is a sign of swift progress. “I have come up quick,” he said.

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He only debuted in August. September’s winner at Crystal Palace meant he struck two minutes into his first-team career. It has only incorporated seven starts but he has nine goals already.

“I am pleased,” he said. “I am happy scoring a few goals.”

Those first nine have come with the promise of many more in the future. Iheanacho, acquired in January 2014, is the first product of City’s revamped academy to break through into the senior squad on a regular basis. “It is the right decision coming here,” said a player who was also coveted by Porto after he was the outstanding footballer in the 2013 Under-17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

His status is almost growing by the game. After his goal against Tottenham, the best defence he has pierced so far, he formed the senior member of a strike duo in the weakened team that lost 5-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup, setting up David Faupala’s goal. Then came a Champions League bow in the closing minutes of the 3-1 win over Dynamo Kiev. He was ineligible in autumn but promoted to the squad registered, at Samir Nasri’s expense.

“It was very important to make my debut in the Champions League,” he said. Of more immediate encouragement, ahead of Sunday’s assignment at Wembley, it was arguably City’s best display of the season.

“We need to put that performance [in again] because we really did well,” Iheanacho added. “We need to show the same desire. We did very well. Everyone did his 100 per cent best. If we reflect that in the final, I think we will win.”

His confidence is mirrored in Manuel Pellegrini’s belief in him. The City manager can be reluctant to select youngsters but allowed Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to leave, replacing neither, as he gave Iheanacho the chance to advance.

“To not sign another striker and to believe and trust in me, I am very happy to hear that from the boss,” he said. “So I need to give him the best.”

He could be partnered by the best. If Iheanacho understudies the most potent forward in the Premier League, in Sergio Aguero, he believes he is not simply a deputy, but a potential sidekick. The Nigerian has the physique of a forward and the touch of a flair player. He has an enviable goalscoring record and the capacity to create. It equips him to play as a No 10 in support of Aguero.

“Playing alongside him is a very good experience for me and I will fit in in that role,” he said. “I am learning a lot from him. Watching him every day and playing alongside him is a great privilege.”

Perhaps in years to come a younger generation of forwards will be saying the same about Iheanacho.

In the meantime, Liverpool have to be on their guard. Iheanacho has graduated from the ranks of an unknown to become Pellegrini’s Plan B.

He is the man who will be summoned at the sight of trouble, and who causes it.

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