Iheanacho: A Great Opportunity Awaits
- Leicester City contest a Carabao Cup Quarter-Final on Tuesday night
- Newcastle United will host the tie at St. James’ Park (8pm kick-off)
- Kelechi Iheanacho spoke about City’s ambitions for the competition
- The striker scored to send the Foxes through in the FA Cup on Saturday
The Nigeria forward was City’s hero in another cup competition on Saturday, as his 56th-minute goal sent the Foxes into the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup. Gillingham had, until that point, proved a tough side to overcome.
Speaking to LCFC TV after his 16th FA Cup strike in 22 appearances, the 26-year-old felt that it was important to break the deadlock soon after the restart following a tight first half in testing conditions at Priestfield Stadium.
“They were a good side,” he commented on the Sky Bet League 2 outfit. “In the first half, they were very hard to break down so trying to find the spaces was difficult, but in the second half those spaces came out, we found them, we got a goal and kept it like that until the game finished, so onto the next round.
Cup Form Continues For Iheanacho
Kelechi Iheanacho kept up his fine goalscoring tally in the Emirates FA Cup with the winner at Gillingham on Saturday.
“We said we should keep playing and keep doing what we were doing and keep pushing and moving the ball from side to side continually and that’s what we did. As we did that, the spaces came out.”
The upcoming fixture with Newcastle, meanwhile, represents a chance to reach a semi-final in the Carabao Cup - a feat Brendan Rodgers’ side last achieved in 2020 - as they travel to St. James’ Park for the last-eight tie (8pm kick-off).
The quick turnaround, with just three days in-between the cup clashes, presents a challenge, especially with a long injury list to contend with. And the Magpies, flying high in the Premier League, are likely to pose a significant test for the Foxes.
“It’s a great competition as well, the cup,” Iheanacho added. “Playing them now, obviously it’s time for revenge because they beat us in the [Premier League].
“We’re going there to fight and to make sure we get the win. It will be a tough game for us but hopefully we can get through.
“They (Newcastle) are very different now. Firstly, their manager (Eddie Howe) is doing a great job – the players as well. They are a very, very strong side so we’ve got to play well. Hopefully we can give them a good game and go through.”
All times GMT.