‘Wilfred Ndidi’s sudden rise scary’

Two of England’s top football pundits, James Sharpe and Rob Tanner have described Wilfred Ndidi as the most astonishing prospect to play for Leicester City, describing his development as ‘scary.’

Reviewing Leicester City’s English Premiership clash with Southampton this weekend in a podcast, the duo said everything that would happen to the 2016 champions would be decided by Ndidi, especially in the absence of striker Jamie Vardy, who was sent off last week.Rob Tanner is the Leicester Mercury’s chief football writer and has been Leicester City FC correspondent for the past eight seasons. James Sharpe also writes for Leicester City Mercury.

Sharpe said, “Ndidi only joined Leicester City a little more than 18 months ago and already he is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. And he’s still just 21. It’s easy to forget that. If he sees out his new six-year contract at Leicester, he will only then be in the prime of his career.

“Yet the development of his game, from the gangly teenager that arrived at City from Genk, has been staggering, even in just a short space of time. How much can he improve over the next six years?Now, that is scary.”

Tanner said the midfielder was very cool and calculated for his age, predicting that he would grow to be one of the best midfielders ever to play in the Premiership.

“In January when he joined us, he looked ready to face the Premier League from beginning. And I have seen that he has been so crucial in guiding this team. To think that he will stay with us for another six years is a massive deal for the club and the fans.”He added: “I remember talking to Alex McLeish about Ndidi when he was still in Belgium, where he played as a full back, and he said he was a bright star. But he has absolutely surpassed all my expectations. He is so calm for a young man of his age.”