Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew may have made his mark with two vital stoppage-time goals this season, but his aim is to become a starting player, says manager Steve Cooper.
After Ayew’s 94th-minute equaliser saved a point for Leicester at Ipswich, Cooper praised the striker’s contributions but noted Ayew’s desire for a bigger role.
“He won’t want that to be his Leicester career,” Cooper said. “It’s tough not starting him, to be honest.”
Leicester’s lineup against Ipswich was designed to exploit wide spaces, favouring wingers Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi, while Jamie Vardy started as the lone striker.
He explained, “We felt we needed the two wingers at the start of the game. We felt we could hurt Ipswich down the sides. They block off the middle and give you the sides and we wanted to take it, to get our wide players in places where they could make a difference. So we went with Abdul and Stephy.
“And then we feel Vards is playing well and is good for a goal at the moment. So it was tough to leave Jordan out, but at the same time brilliant to bring him on. The lads who came on did well and made a difference. The lads who stayed on and came off also contributed as well.”
However, Ayew’s late entrance once again proved pivotal. With Ayew’s recent performances giving Leicester breathing room in the standings, Cooper acknowledged the challenge of balancing tactical choices with Ayew’s potential impact as a starter.
The 33-year-old, who signed a two-year, £5 million contract with Leicester City from Crystal Palace this summer, has quickly emerged as a key figure for the club.
Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet
