Kelechi Iheanacho praised by Bursaspor boss after prolific start

Bursaspor head coach Mustafa Er has praised Kelechi Iheanacho’s immediate impact after the Nigeria international scored 12 goals and provided two assists in his first nine league appearances for the club.

The 30-year-old striker joined Bursaspor on a free transfer in the summer and has quickly become a central figure in the Green Crocodiles’ promotion campaign.

Er said Bursaspor had worked extensively to sign Iheanacho and expected the forward to contribute goals.

“We transferred Iheanacho so that he would score goals. We worked very hard for that transfer. We also need to thank our management,” Er said, according to Bursaspor’s official website.

The manager added that Iheanacho had been wanted by several clubs before deciding to move to Bursaspor, with the stature of the Turkish club playing an important role in his choice.

“There was a lot of demand for him. The size of the club was also very important in his choosing us. We are getting the contribution we want,” Er said.

Iheanacho’s form has helped strengthen Bursaspor’s push for promotion, while Er believes the team are also benefiting from a growing sense of unity.

The coach hopes Iheanacho can continue his scoring run in Bursaspor’s next fixture.

“Iheanacho continues to score. I hope he scores this week too. We have a positive team,” he said.

“There is tremendous progress in team spirit. Productivity is also increasing. People are more productive when they are happy. We win as a team.”