22nd July, 2015
Raheem Sterling quicksilver start as Manchester City’s record £49million signing inevitably stole the headlines in their victory over Roma in Melbourne, but it overshadowed another impressive display from exciting teenage striker Kelechi Iheanacho.
The young Nigerian set up the goal for Sterling less than three minutes into the England international’s debut and then scored the second himself with a well-taken effort against the Italians at the MCG.
Iheanacho also shone on City’s tour of the United States 12 months ago, but did not obtain a work permit enabling him to play for their youth-team until earlier this year. Now manager Manuel Pellegrini is expected to underline his faith in the 18-year-old by drafting him into the first-team squad this season if Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic leave the Etihad.
Iheanacho admitted that he is desperate to break into the senior side after once again proving that he can make an impact at the highest level.
“The manager has promised me nothing. He’s just told me to keep working hard every day. So as yet I don’t know what my chance is, but I pray that it will come soon.
“Last season, everything was okay. It was just about getting a work permit, but everything is sorted out now. I am able to play for Man City now.
“It was nice to get a goal, I feel good about it. This season I hope to be here. I’ve been training hard with them during pre-season and I hope this is the time for me to break into the first-team.”
Iheanacho showed great vision to release Sterling for his debut goal against Roma before seizing on an awful back-pass by Ashley Cole early in the second half. Roma came back to tie the International Champions Cup game 2-2 but City won on a penalty shootout. Now Iheanacho wants another opportunity to play alongside Sterling against Real Madrid at the MCG on Friday.
He added: “When you are such an intelligent player like he is, it’s easy for us to play alongside him. It was an honour. He’s a very good player – intelligent, skilful and strong.
He’s a little bit older than me. I’m a young player still trying to make it so I hope I can learn some things from him. “It was a very good pass that I gave him for the goal. I thought it might have been offside actually but in the end it was a good run.
“My goal was quite similar, and it was a good finish. I would like to play against Real Madrid now. It’s great for me to play at this level – this is the very top.”