Patson Daka scored seven goals in his first 10 appearances of the season for Leicester City, but has not scored in any of his last nine , in which he’s missed some big chances.
Showing faith in goal-shy strikers is the best way to get them firing again, Enzo Maresca has said amid Patson Daka’s two-month drought.
Daka scored seven goals in his first 10 appearances of the season, the Zambian coming good when City needed him back in December, with Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho both injured. But he’s now gone eight games without finding the net and missed some big chances in the meantime, most notably the one-on-one against Leeds that he mis-hit wide, and Tuesday’s last-second header at Millwall that he misjudged.
He could come back into the line-up at Plymouth if Maresca continues his rotation routine up front. Showing that he has the 25-year-old’s back is the best way to get him on the scoresheet again, the manager believes.
“Strikers, they need goals,” Maresca said. “They need that. The other day he (Daka) missed one. But it can happen. Hopefully him, Jamie, Kele, Tom, if they have the chance, they can score and they can help us in the final five games of the season.
“It’s just about showing them confidence and trust. And the only way to show them confidence and trust most of the time is to give them minutes. If the manager gives you minutes, it’s because they trust you.”
At the end of Tuesday’s game, in City’s desperate search for an equaliser, Maresca brought Daka on to play alongside Kelechi Iheanacho. It was rare to see the City boss go for two strikers, and he says it’s only in situations like that they he will consider it an option.
“It was just for that scenario,” he said. “I’m not a fan to play with two strikers. It’s because in that moment, there was five minutes to go. We tried to put another striker on to see if we could take one point. But I’m not a fan of playing two strikers. We’ll see if it’s going to happen again, but it’s not the ideal situation for us.”
[Leicester Mercury]
Each time Leiceter City are playing and if Patson is going to be featured I make sure I watch the match. It is like there is a conspiracy among the players against Patson. They make sure NOT to pass the balls to him. Those boys Mavididi and Ihnaecho want everything to themselves and midfielders send all the balls to them and even when Patson is open and in a scoring position. This makes Patson start to chase after the balls- front, midfield as well as defence. The chances that he has been seen to miss are a result of inactivity on the field of play. It’s like a goalkeeper whose attacking and midfield teammates are doing very well upfront there. Such goalkeepers are likely to allow in a goal because of inactivity which causes them to lose concentration. It actually beats me to see that the Coach has not been able to notice this GLARING CONSPIRACY. Please do NOT destroy our boy. Mr Maresca, if our boy does not appeal to you and your favourite players, sell him so that he excels elsewhere where his prowess will be appreciated. We want him to sharpen his skills. This can happen only if he is given sufficient game time and supported by other players. NOT THOSE players who just want to make names for themselves even at the expense of the Club.
I agree with the previous comment, every striker needs goal and in order to get goals you need adequate supply from midfielders. The moment there is a bias or favoritism shown towards particular players in this case a particular striker, you make even a sharp striker dull, which then causes inefficiency or inaccuracy. I am of the opinion that Leicester will always prefer their golden boy, Vardy over Daka. He needs a better team/club, particularly one sharpens his striker instincts better. He needs to explore his options in the German Bundasliga, I believe he will fit perfectly because it’s a League of goals.
Am sure Daka has seen the confidence Enzo has in him. its now up to him to pull up his socks and l believe he will do it.