Rejuvenating Isshaku fueling Leicester City’s Premier League return

Abdul Fatwu Issahaku scored his first senior hat-trick as Leicester City beat Southampton 5-0 in the Sky Bet English Championship on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old became the first Ghanaian to score a hat trick in the Championship as Leicester went four points clear of the top the table.

Win over Southampton means the Midlands side need just one more win – or a Leeds defeat – to secure an instant return to the Premier League at their first attempt.

Fatawu’s hat-trick doubled his league goals tally (6) for the season in one night and the Ghanaian was thrilled to play a pivotal role in such a significant victory.

“I don’t think I can tell you how I feel,” he said afterwards. “It’s so amazing and I feel so happy for this day. This is what we’re here to do and we are just going more and more where we want to.

“We have come a long way to lose what was in our hands. We’re working hard and this is why we’ll keep going until we get to where we want.”- he told the club’s media.

Born in the Ghanaian city of Tamale, Fatawu started his senior career with Steadfast FC, and quickly established himself as one of his country’s most exciting talents.

Fatawu helped Ghana’s Under-20 team to win the Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations in March 2021, where he was named player of the tournament.

Fatawu’s performances earned him a loan move to Ghanaian Premier League side Dreams FC in October 2021.  He continued his fine form before switching to Sporting Lisbon, Portugal in April 2022.

He made just six appearances for the first team and playing 13 times for the U23 side.

On the deadline day of the 2023 summer transfer window, Fatawu secured a loan move to Leicester City who had been relegated from the English Premier League, six years after winning the title.

The transfer included a €17 million release clause for Issahaku if he played 60% of games and helped the club gain promotion to the top-flight flight. According to the Athletic UK, there are talks between the two clubs to make the transfer permanent.

The lad from Tamale has round himself a happy temporary home with the Championship club and is flourishing in the spotlight while developing his talent.

Issahaku has seen seven goals and 12 assists in 41 games in all competitions and has become one of the fans’ favourites.

He has salvaged his progress as a player in the Midlands. Its first half had been close to a write-off when he was overlooked during an unhappy spell at Sporting Club in Portugal, but the loan move has allowed the steady progress of a promising lad.

Fatawu’s curled finish from outside the box to make it three was the pick of the goals against Southampton.

Again his electrifying speed, precision, and power have made him a formidable presence in midfield but indicates the young lad can still get better.

“He’s young, he needs to learn many things,” Enzo Maresca Leicester’s manager told BBC.

“The problem with young players is they are up and down.

“I just said to him that the next two games, he is going to be on the bench,” the manager joked.

“Otherwise, he’ll start to shoot from everywhere, because he score!”

As Leicester City’s journey unfolds, one thing is certain – with Fatawu Isshaku being instrumental, the future looks brighter than ever for the Foxes.

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