Manchester City will turn to MORE prolific striker Kelechi Iheanacho to replace banned Sergio Aguero
Top scorer is suspended for trip to Leicester, while Gabriel Jesus does not arrive until next month
MONEYBAGS Manchester City will turn to whizkid freebie Kelechi Iheanacho to save their skins today.
Top-scorer Sergio Aguero is banned for the trip to champions Leicester, while Gabriel Jesus does not arrive until next month.
City boss Pep Guardiola said: “He’s our striker. The only one I have. He always has a good sense of where the goal is and we need it. Of course, he’s a player that should play. But I never put the responsibility on the shoulders of the strikers to score goals.”
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Nigerian Iheanacho, 20, signed for City’s academy for free in January 2014, and scored in both Prem games when Aguero was suspended in September.
He has a better goals-per-minute ratio than the Argentinian star.
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And City have coped well without their leading marksman — losing just two of the last 23 league games when he has been absent.
Aguero is serving a four-match ban after getting sent off against Chelsea, and Fernandinho misses three games after also being red carded.
Guardiola added: “We have other players — we are not going to say we didn’t win because Sergio or Fernandinho is not here.
“We have to find a solution, that’s why we are here.”
Guardiola insists he will not rush new £28.6million Brazilian forward Jesus. He is available from January 1 but the City boss said: “First we have to help him settle in England.”