Armed with mental strength rooted in adversity, Daka was primed and ready when his chance came a couple of weeks before Christmas.
He scored against Plymouth and again in a 3-2 win over Millwall five days later.
The 25-year-old has started every Championship game since, either side of African Cup of Nations duty with Zambia.
After netting once in three matches in the Ivory Coast, Daka hit the ground running on his return, scoring three times in as many games.
It has taken his season’s tally for club and country to 13 goals in 19 appearances, a ratio normally associated with the likes of Erling Haaland or England’s Harry Kane, and it has helped propel Leicester 11 points clear at the top of the Championship ahead of Tuesday’s home clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
Yet the story could easily have been so different.
Daka came ‘close’ to King Power exit
After only four goals in 37 appearances in all competitions last season, Daka admits he came ‘close’ to leaving the King Power Stadium last summer following Leicester’s relegation to the Championship and Enzo Maresca’s arrival as head coach.
He opted to stay but an autumn on the fringes might have caused many players to try and firm up a January move.
Playing the long game, though, looks to have paid off.
“Fortunately it didn’t happen because here we are, it’s a different story,” he said.
“During the winter window, honestly, I didn’t want to go anywhere. I had a lot of talks with the gaffer and I knew what he wanted me to do and what he wanted from me.”
Daka’s current form would appear to make him undroppable.
However, with competition from Vardy, Iheanacho and the emergence of 21-year-old striker Tom Cannon, life experience guarantees he will not be complacent.
“It could be more, a lot of work needs to be done,” he added.
“It’s not a bad return, but I think it could be better. Hopefully it’s going to be better.”
The full interview will be aired on BBC East Midlands Today from 18:35.
