A remarkable statistic has now emerged that shows why Leicester City miss Wilfred Ndidi so much.
Wilfred Ndidi was one of several players who were expected to depart last summer before being sold by the Enzo Maresca project.
The 27-year-old was linked with a move away from the King Power, but his decision to stay at the club has proven to be the best he’s made for his career.
Although Ndidi spent the majority of his Leicester career as a defensive midfielder, responsible for screening the back line and winning possession back for his team, the Nigerian has evolved into an attacking force under Maresca.
Ndidi is used as one of two ‘8’s’ and is given license to ghost into the box and wreak havoc in the opposition half.
This has seen him score four goals and supply six assists in 24 appearances this term, eclipsing the total number of goal contributions he managed in the three previous campaigns.
Alongside Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the former Genk midfielder was flourishing as an advanced playmaker until he was struck down with an injury against Cardiff City in late December and he’s since been sidelined.
The statistic that shows why Leicester City miss Wilfred Ndidi
From his impact on the starting XI alone, Maresca was always going to miss Ndidi when he was absent but now one statistic brings that to reality.
In the 21 matches he has played this season, Leicester have won 18, drawn two and lost one.
By contrast, on the 12 occasions he’s been out of the side through injury, they’ve won seven, drawn one and lost four, underlying his importance to the system.
While he’s been forced to watch on through injury, Dennis Praet – the man who has attempted to fill his void – hasn’t reached the levels Ndidi was hitting.
How Wilfred Ndidi compares to Dennis Praet
During his time in the Premier League, Ndidi’s primary focus was on being a midfield destroyer, but now he’s the architect of opportunities in the final third and he’s beaten Praet across various attacking metrics.
As highlighted by FBref, the 53-cap Nigerian records more touches in the attacking penalty box (5.06/4.37), shots (2.13/0.87), progressive carries (1.22) and assists per 90 (0.33/0.17).
Although Praet has rarely put a foot wrong since earning a regular run in the side, Ndidi’s numbers just show how much they miss him.
He’s become elite at linking midfield to attack and against Middlesbrough that’s exactly what they missed as well as someone strong at ball-carrying.
In a list of several who have been transformed on the back of Maresca’s arrival, the ‘incredible’ Ndidi, as hailed by Brendan Rodgers, is right up with the rise of Jannik Vestergaard and Ricardo Pereira.