Kelechi Iheanacho has made his first Premier League start in a year for Leicester City in the ongoing game against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers has rewarded the Nigeria international for his brilliant performances off the bench since the start of the 2019-2020 campaign by including the striker in his starting line-up.

Speaking ahead of the game, which is being broadcast by Sky Sports Premier League, former West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley and Liverpool legend Michael Owen have opined that Iheanacho started over Ayoze Pérez because Rodgers is looking to exploit the pace of the Nigerian.

In a 4-4-2 formation, Iheanacho is partnering Premier League's leading scorer, Jamie Vardy in attack

Curbishley explained : ''As Brendan would say, they are very flexible, they fill in for each other depending what's happening in the game.

''Because of his performance, Iheanacho, scoring the winner et cetera, he's had to give him a start so he has left Perez out.

''Look at the pace they have got at the top and I think that's what they are looking to exploit.''

Michael Owen added : ''Probably their biggest strength is their pace, so as much as Vardy and Iheanacho are going to give them problems, I think that's where (Aston Villa) they feel as if they can nullify that''.

Leicester City led 2-1 at the break thanks to goals from Vardy and Iheanacho while Aston Villa's Grealish pulled one back in injury time.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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