Former Chelsea striker Sam Parkin is unimpressed by Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho’s level of impact at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough since arriving on loan from Sevilla, Footynaija.com reports.
Middlesbrough found themselves in need of striking reinforcements after losing their first choice striker Latte Lath to Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United in the winter window.
Boro eventually settled on Super Eagles’ Iheanacho, who was enduring a difficult stint at Spanish La Liga side Sevilla. However, the Nigeria international is yet to make any meaningful impact on the pitch despite making three appearances already.
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While Iheanacho struggles to provide the goods for Middlesbrough, Latte Lath, who was sold for a club record fee, has had an immediate impact in Atlanta with the Ivorian striker netting a brace on his MLS debut.
Parkin, who failed to make a senior appearance for Chelsea despite being on the books for four years between 1998 and 2002, questioned Middlesbrough’s decision to sign Iheanacho while expressing his doubts about the Nigerian’s ability to meet the team’s goal-scoring needs.
“It’s hugely disruptive to lose your main goalscorer in the middle of the season and not adequately replace him,” Parkin said in quotes reported by Gazette Live.
“They’ve replaced Latte Lath with Iheanacho who is a very different type of player. I like Iheanacho in terms of his hold up; I liked watching him at times last season at Leicester.
“But there were times where he didn’t look like a definitive goal threat like they had with Latte Lath or the general play he provided across the last 18 months.”
While Parkin’s take may hold some truth, Iheanacho’s struggles may simply be a matter of acclimatization. The Nigerian striker certainly possesses the quality to thrive at Middlesbrough and with criticism mounting, he will be looking to prove
