Patson Daka
Patson Daka’s four-goal heroics “can’t be dismissed” by Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers as he picks from three strikers for two spots at Brentford this Sunday. Daka is City’s man of the moment following a “masterclass in finishing” at Spartak Moscow, and his role in the Europa League victory means Rodgers has to consider handing him his first Premier League start since his £23m summer switch. But the decision is far from simple, with Daka’s rivals for a starting berth in west London also in excellent form. Jamie Vardy is the Premier League’s leading goalscorer, while Kelechi Iheanacho has a combined six goals and assists in his last five starts. Asked if Daka could be the first player to score four and then return to the bench,
Brendan Rodgers said: “He’s made a load of firsts this week, the first Zambian player to score in the Premier League, the first player to score four goals in Europe for Leicester. What’s most important is that he’s in great form and puts us in a great thought process for the weekend. That’s what we get paid for, making those decisions. We’ll go away and finalise our preparation, and we’ll see what we think is the best combination to win the game. If that means Patson is on the bench, he’s on the bench. He’ll contribute. We just try to find the right combination. But the emotion of the game is something you’ve got to consider. If it wasn’t in your plan, and wasn’t in your thinking, you would certainly have to consider it. A player coming off the back of scoring four goals, and playing to that level and confidence, you can’t dismiss it, because it was an extraordinary performance of sheer quality. Those finishes, off your left foot passing it in, it was a masterclass in finishing.”
It would seem to be a choice between Daka and Iheanacho next to Vardy, who is on a plan to keep him fresh for Premier League games.
Brendan Rodgers said: “We’ve tried to manage the team and in particular our strikers. Jamie, we’ve been keeping him fresh for Premier League games and hoping he becomes more involved in the latter stages in Europe. The freshness has kept him full of energy and full of goals in the Premier League. Kelechi is now a consistent performer who will score goals and create goals. We’re in a great position in that part of the field. All three players are in a great place.”
