Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka have scored six non-penalty goals in 70 Championship appearances this campaign, which should open the door for an in-form alternative
Lorenz Hutchinson in action for Leicester City Under-21s during their 5-1 win over Arsenal(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Leicester City’s two senior strikers have scored six non-penalty goals between them in a combined 70 appearances. One is being booed onto the pitch, the other is missing chances he should score.
Now should be the time to try something new, to look beyond Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka. But it feels unlikely that Gary Rowett will take that gamble.
That’s despite there being players to turn to. Because, unlike in the past, City do have in-form forwards in their youth ranks.
Kirsten Otchere has eight goals and four assists in his last 12 appearances for the Under-21s. Across league matches for the Under-18s and Under-21s, Lorenz Hutchinson has 19 goals and eight assists in 22 appearances.
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The latter has now been included in the England Under-18s alongside Jeremy Monga and Louis Page, two players who have been deemed good enough to play for City’s senior side this season.
There’s no doubt that giving either Otchere or Hutchinson a chance would be a gamble. They have no senior experience and they’re coming into a high-pressure run-in.
But both have good records, both must be high on confidence, and opposition defenders won’t know how they operate.
There can be trepidation in playing young defenders and goalkeepers for fear of how a mistake might impact their futures, but that’s not a big issue for teenage forwards. It doesn’t seem like there’s anything to lose from giving either a go.
However, it won’t happen. At least not now. Rowett has been clear that he will be selecting players with experience in order to try to get City over the line. It’s why Page and Bade Aluko cannot get on the bench any longer.
It’s hard to see Rowett even turning to any of the senior players in his squad that have played as a striker before.
Dujuan Richards, signed as support for Abdul Fatawu on the right wing but able to play up front, has barely featured since joining on loan from Chelsea.
Divine Mukasa and Bobby De Cordova-Reid can operate as a false nine, Mukasa doing so for Manchester City earlier this season.
But then Leicester would have the same issue they have when Ayew plays, in that they have a striker dropping deep to connect play and so nobody in the box to cause problems for centre-backs and to try to latch onto crosses and through balls.
There are seven games left for City and it would be a big surprise if Rowett opts for anyone besides Daka or Ayew as his starting striker in those fixtures.
Only next season, when both are out of contract, will City have somebody new leading the line.
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