Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca has made a promise to striker Patson Daka after he scored his second goal in as many games in the 3-2 victory over Millwall.
Patson Daka was close to joining Premier League side Bournemouth in the summer, however, a deal never materialised.
The 25-year-old was then essentially frozen out of Enzo Maresca’s plans but that wasn’t down to his ability, the Italian just felt Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho were better options to lead the line.
Before selecting Daka last week, Maresca said: “The problem with Pat is that we have Kele (Iheanacho) and Jamie (Vardy), and now Tom (Cannon) is back. Kele and Jamie are doing very well. It doesn’t mean that if Pat plays he’s going to do bad, but there are already two players who are doing well.
Although it has taken injury and illness to Vardy and Iheanacho respectively for Daka to be selected in the starting XI, he’s taken that opportunity with open arms by scoring in consecutive matches.
And now Maresca has made a promise to the Zambian marksman after setting the King Power alight.
What has Enzo Maresca told Patson Daka?
Following two impressive performances, the Italian has been rewarded for placing his faith in Daka and he has now promised to give him further chances as a lone striker in the future.
He said: “You are playing and you deserve it, but if for any reason you are not playing and we’re playing another one and he’s doing well, now you need to work and come back.
“At this moment, Patson is scoring goals and working hard after three or four months where he waits, waits, waits. For sure, we’re going to trust him and give him more chances, no doubt.”
Maresca is blessed to have multiple quality forward options at his disposal and he has challenged the likes of Vardy, Iheanacho and Tom Cannon to fight for a place in the team.
Who starts up front for Leicester when everyone is fit?
When the Leicester boss has every striker at his disposal, he has a selection headache to contend with.
Although Daka is currently in-form, Vardy, Iheanacho and Cannon will be banging on the manager’s door for a place in the team.
Vardy, in particular, has a record that speaks for itself this season, averaging a goal every 140 minutes having scored seven in 19 appearances while Iheanacho has six in 20 appearances.
Irrespective of how well Daka is doing, it’s hard to ignore the goal-scoring presence of the Englishman.
Cannon, on the other hand, made his debut in the 4-0 win over Plymouth Argyle and can provide a focal point that the others can’t.
It’s great that Maresca has a blend of strikers that can give him a variety of attributes in matches.
And once Daka and Iheanacho are on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January, the Italian’s decision is made easier with only Vardy and Cannon to choose from.