More Tackles & Blocks Than Kante & Pogba, Is Ndidi Underappreciated In The Premier League?

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has hardly put a foot wrong since he joined from Genk last season, but somewhat surprising it is that he is yet to garner the high encomium which he rightly deserves.

The youngster has grown in leaps and bounds since he traded Belgium for England and had swiftly established himself as one of the most important players for the club, such is his vitality that many would forget that he is still just 20.

His importance is thoroughly depicted in the number of games he had played for the Foxes in the division: the Lagos-born midfielder has started 31 of the 32 Premier League games for the Leicestershire team and had completed all but
one and this campaign, he had as well, been involved from the off in all their matches.

A statistical survey of the Premier League equally shows he (1350 minutes) has accumulated more minutes than certain top side outfield regulars like Kevin De Bruyne (1290 minutes), Idrissa Gana (1283 minutes), Cesar Azpilicueta (1260 minutes) and Mohammed Salah (1126 minutes).

Ndidi (3.9) has also averaged more tackles and blocks per game than Ngolo Kante (3.4), Paul Pogba (1.5), Emre Can (2), Granite Xhaka (1.7) and Fernadinho (2.1) while he has equally thrumped defenders like Victor Lindelof
(2.7), Rob Holding (2.4) and Marcos Alonso (2.7) on clearances made in each game — impressive numbers which clearly illustrates his undoubted quality tailor-made for the rough and tumble intensity of the Premier League.

The Nigerian star has forged a reputation for consistently putting his body on the line, tracking back to help out defensively while even chipping in two assists already for Riyad Mahrez this term.

He was currently named the most valuable U21 African player and the eleventh overall in the world by CIES Football
Observatory, a gigantic achievement and pointer to his burgeoning stock but yet, is he really appreciated that much in the English topflight?

It would take very little time before a top side would come calling for his services on the back of his indisputable optimal performances which he churns out week in, week out. Only then might he earn the recognition which rightfully befits him.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : lcfc.com