Wilfred Ndidi Emerges Leicester City’s MVP For 2019/20 Season
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Fans of Super Eagles’ midfield general, Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi, are in celebration mood despite disruptions in the global football Calendar due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ranked as one of the best defensive midfielder in world football today, their soccer idol has added another feather to his illustrious playing career’s cap.
Unveiling a list of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for every Premier League club in the 2019-2020 season, British Television (BTV) sports channel, Sky Sports, picked the Eagles’ midfield dynamo as the MVP in Leicester City’s squad.
Before the Premiership went on forced break due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerian star had featured in 23 games in the English top-flight, scoring two goals and having 1,892 minutes of action to his credit.
To highlight his importance in the Leicester squad, of the six matches Ndidi missed in the EPL through injury, the Foxes managed to win only once, against Sheffield United on match day three when they needed a 70th-minute goal from Harvey Barnes to secure all three points.
Offering an insight on the choice of Nigerian defensive midfielder, Sky Sports said: “Leicester lead the way for counterattacks this season, a hallmark of their game in recent years.
“The bedrock of their midfield and the key man in launching so many fast breaks is Wilfred Ndidi.
“The Nigerian is a master of the art of the turnover, regularly winning possession and springing attacks. His 4.4 tackles per 90 minutes is the highest in the Premier League this season and significantly higher than the next-best central midfielder, Oriol Romeu on 3.2.
“Ndidi’s value was further demonstrated by his recent injury absence – a five-game run that saw the previously high-flying Leicester take only two points from a possible 15.”
Born on December 16, 1996, Ndidi joined Leicester City, then English champions on December 3, 2016 when Belgian side, FC Genk, agreed a £17 million transfer deal that was finally confirmed on January 5, 2017.
After his debut for the King Power Stadium Landlords on January 7, 2017, in a 2–1 win against Everton in the third round of the FA Cup, Ndidi made his first Premier League start on January 14, 2017 against Chelsea at home in a 3–0 defeat.
In the English FA Cup game against Derby County on February 8, 2017, Ndidi came on in the first half of extra time and scored his first goal for Leicester through a long-range shot.
In a 3–1 win over Liverpool on February 27, 2017, the Nigerian player won 11 of his 14 tackles, a feat bettered only by Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté who made 14 successful tackles against the same club in January.
The Super Eagles’ defensive midfielder was sent off for the first time in his professional career during Leicester’s 3–0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on December 16, 2017. – With agency reports
