Having coached Liverpool in his illustrious career, Brendan Rodgers believes Wilfred Ndidi could become his Leicester City version of Steven Gerrard.
Since joining Leicester, Rodgers has been utilizing the Nigerian in a holding midfield role similar to the one Gerrard played for him at Liverpool with Ndidi producing his best display of the season in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend.
With 11 tackles and five interceptions against Bournemouth, Rodgers believes Ndidi can still get better.
Rodgers told LeicesterShireLive that the Nigerian has endeared himself into his heart with his weekly display for the City.
The Nigerian international had played most of the season alongside fellow defensive midfielder Papy Mendy, but he has flourished since being given the holding role by Rodgers, which allows Youri Tielemans and James Maddison to push further forward, and Rodgers has been delighted with how Ndidi has responded to the changes.
“I’ve always had one in my teams – that sort of central pivot that orchestrates the game,” said Rodgers. I had Steven (Gerrard) do it for me at Liverpool and Leon Britton did it for me at Swansea, different types. I like to have a player in there but the three midfielders all have to be different for me.
“But you certainly need one who has the appetite to win the ball. They all have to press and be aggressive but how he wins the ball is incredible.
“He (Ndidi) covers the ground, his anticipation of where the ball is going and how he reads it and the number of counter attacks he stopped today…a lot of what Bournemouth have done these last few years because you know the strengths of their team.
“We didn’t concede many counters and that was down to his tactical discipline with the two centre halves and with the full backs behind. So he’s a fantastic player and he’s only going to get better,” Rodgers said.