Lee Hendrie praises his former club’s current stars amid their potential for moves in the future. Leicester City currently reside in 12th place after 15 Championship games. This form is fairly lacklustre and has seen a real lack of dominance. Despite this, wide-men Jeremy Monga and Abdul Fatawu constantly impress. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Hendrie has commended their performances.
Lee Hendrie Praises Leicester Player Abdul Fatawu
What Hendrie Said:
When talking to Football League World, Hendrie discussed Monga and Fatawu, as he was asked about Championship players who could attract interest from the top division. He said: “The likes of Fatawu at Leicester. There were links; he’s very young, and he probably fits the bill for most Premier League clubs with bags of potential”. This is no surprise due to Fatawu’s importance to the Foxes this season.
Read More: Leicester Legend Provides Damning Response on Forward Options Amid Goal Drought
Whether it’s scoring wonder goals from nothing or driving his team up the pitch, Fatawu is at the heart of most Leicester attacks. The Ghanaian’s success is mirrored by his stats, as he ranks in the top five percentiles for both progressive passes and successful take-ons this season. Furthermore, his influence on games is also evident through the opposition often doubling up on him in a bid to shut down his threat.
Meanwhile, Hendrie also acknowledged the work on the other side from 16-year-old Monga. He said: “Another one, Jeremy Monga at Leicester. Young, talented individual who has got himself in the first team at such a young age”. Although perhaps being less consistent, the teenager has well and truly held his own this season and has already tallied a goal and an assist. Tricky footwork, excellent intelligence and an elite technical package have attracted interest from all across Europe.
How Likely Is a Move Away?
With both players featuring in the Premier League last season and now impressing in the second tier, a move away could be on the cards. They are both playing regularly and are even earning caps at the international level for Ghana and England under-19s, respectively. They are players who make a difference and can instantly change their side’s fortunes through their directness. Many times this has happened, but there are also drawbacks to both of their profiles.
Read More: Leicester Owner Khun Top Eyes ‘Major Reshuffle’ Following Years of Decline
Firstly, consistency is lacking, which could be an issue further exacerbated in the Premier League. For Fatawu, it’s obvious that he wants to cut inside and shoot with his excellent left foot, which makes him predictable and often less effective. As a result, this season he’s tallying just three goals from 48 shots, which further suggests that his efforts are either too frequent or from poor areas.
On the contrary, Monga, who is a more technical player, can at times struggle to get into games. For example, in tough away games, he may struggle, but everyone expects this at this stage of his development. Diving is also another prominent aspect that has led to his two yellow cards this season. Aside from that, he is continuing to develop, and it is more than likely that a Premier League side will acquire him in the near future. The confidence to take on his man, whilst making things happen, is extraordinary, and once the end-product is more consistent, there will be no stopping him.
Overall, moves in the near future are more than likely, even more so if City fail to win promotion this season. Both players’ ambitions will be to return to playing at a higher level, and for better sides that rely on them less. Fatawu’s three goals rescued three points on each occasion, as it led to crucial victories; this match-winning mentality is a desire for any club across the top division. Therefore, could City’s wingers be their next stars to depart?
Featured Image Credit:
IMAGO / Action Plus
