Iheanacho ticks the right boxes for Man City

It is just weeks to the kick-off of the 2015/16 Barclays Premier League season and Nigerian teenager, Kelechi Iheanacho, will be hoping that his performance on Tuesday in an international friendly against Roma, will go some way in convincing Manuel Pellegrini that he can deliver for the team.

The 2013 FIFA U-17 MVP played for 72 minutes and in that time set up and scored a goal to help City to a 2-2 draw. The match went into penalties and Joe Hart was the hero as he saved from Seydou Doumbia and Seydou Keita.

Kelechi provided the assist with a superb chip from the centre circle for new signing, Raheem Sterling, in the third minute and capitalized on a wayward back pass by Ashley Cole in the 52nd minute. He calmly controlled the ball before shooting past Morgan De Sanctis, in goal for Roma.

Roma equalized the first goal through Miralem Pjanic in the eighth minute and scored their second four minutes from time through Ljajic.

City are said to be looking for new striker reinforcements with Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic looking for new clubs. Meanwhile, January recruit, Wilfred Bony is not on tour because of a sickness and Sergio Aguero is yet to join the squad because of an extended leave as he played the Copa America with Argentina.

Iheanacho was given a pat on the back by Pellegrini when he was substituted and the Guardian of UK summarized the match like this: “An entertaining enough caper that included some promising plus points for City, most obviously a debut goal for Sterling, a fine performance and goal by Iheanacho and customary excellence from Silva.”

The Nigerian forward will be hoping his manager reads this.