Ever since the arrival of Manchester City's Manager Pep Guardiola this season, the CAF most promising talent, Kelechi Iheanacho (Super Eagles Striker) has been a doubt for his club as the new manager doesn't have confidence in him to deliver.
The Nigeria International has struggled for game time this season under Pep Guardiola, and a new rival now threatens his future at the Etihad Stadium.
When Pep Guardiola rocked up to Manchester City, there was a lot of excitement at the arrival of the 'final piece of the puzzle'. The drive to cast Manchester City in the mould of his all conquering Barcelona team had precipitated a revamp of the club's youth set up and training facilities, as well as changes on the administrative end.
There was also a sense of expectation surrounding the development of the Nigeria youngster Kelechi Iheanacho, as it were the first born from the bowels of the “New Manchester City”, having shone brightly, albeit fleetingly, under Former Manager Manuel Pellegrini last season.
Half a season into Guardiola's tenure, there is little to indicate he was, or indeed has been, impressed. Iheanacho has kept up his eye-chatching scoring ratio, but his minutes has been a lot sparser than anyone might have imagined.
One might be tempted to view this as a consequence of the pressure that the former Bayern Munich Manager is having to weather in England.
However, the arrival of the Brazil International Gabriel Jesus, compounded the woes and immediately displaced the Super Eagles striker to the bench as the writing is on the wall for the 20 years old Nigeria striker, he is weighed in the scales and has been found wanting.
City Legend Shaun Goater was unequivocal in his assessment two weeks ago, telling sports bwin.com that it is clear Guardiola does not trust Iheanacho, in spite of his statement to the contrary. It seems an odd position to adopt over a player who is averaging a goal every 96 minutes, but there is an element of double speak, bordering on hypocrisy, to the handling of Iheanocho at the Etihad.
The arrival of Gabriel Jesus may very well be the straws that break's the camel's back. Sergio Aguero was benched as the 19 years old Brazil player has been impressive scoring 4 goals in 3 matches for the citizen (Manchester City) leaving speculations that Aguero may likely to leave at the end of the season.
With Kelechi Iheanocho not making it to the City's first team squad for 5 games, sports men were saying that Iheanacho should leave the club to get more playing time so as his bright future does not dim off.
But as God may have it, the so called the Saviour of Manchester City which many believe to be, got injured at their last game against Bourne mouth which they won 2-0 in their favour which brought to the introduction of Sergio Aguero who proved people wrong by saying he is far much better than Gabriel Jesus scored the second goal against Bourne mouth.
The injury to Gabriel Jesus which will keep him out for three months, has already sent people asking questions like, “does it mean that Iheanocho will once more play? Will he be added to the team squad? Well let's just watch and see as events unfolds.
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