Head coach of English Premier League side Leicester City Steve Cooper says Nigeria international midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has shown he has what it takes to play the number 10 role, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Ndidi picked up his third assist in four games in the league this year with his two assists helping his team to a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. A little over a week after his assist for Nigeria in the 3-0 win over Benin Republic in the AFCON qualifiers.
Deployed in a more defensive role for the senior national team of Nigeria, at club level he was moved to a new role higher up the pitch by former coach Enzo Maresca in their successful promotion bid back to the top league.
He has maintained the same position in the Premier League as against the thought of many who suggested that the 27 year old might struggle to play in that position in the English top division.
Cooper is of a different opinion insisting that Ndidi has earned the right to play in that advanced midfield role for club and country after his success last season.
“Ndidi did that quite a lot last season,” Cooper said after the game, speaking of the midfielder’s attacking role.
“We can make decisions in terms of profiles for certain games and in certain positions, and Wilf has delivered today. He had a long week travelling and there was some thought around the international boys who came back late, about whether they should play.
“But Ndidi has got so many Premier League appearances. That doesn’t mean that you definitely start the game, but I just felt that today we needed that.”
