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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
FORGET about Jamie Vardy’s two goals, in the opening month of the English Premiership campaign.
It’s teenage Zimbabwean sensation, Tawanda Maswanhise, who continues to raise the bar.
He beat the English international to the first Leicester City Goal of the Month award for this season.
Maswanhise was rewarded for his spectacular finish, which earned the Foxes Under-23 side a point, in the 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers, in the English Premier League 2.
The 18-year-old’s rising shot was voted the best goal by the Leicester City fans, from seven nominations, which included two first team goals from Vardy.
There were two others from Maswanhise’s development squad teammate, Jack Wakeling.
Maswanhise, who has recently signed his first professional contract with the club after getting promoted from the Under-18 side, has started the season with a bang.
The teenager has now scored two goals, in the opening four games of the English Premier League 2 campaign.
His latest strike came on Monday, when they beat Everton Under-23s.
Maswanhise, who is the son of former top Zimbabwean sprinter, Jeffery Maswanise, scored a brilliant individual strike in the 3-1 win. But, he had already made an impression, with his first strike.
Vardy’s efforts came against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich City and were nominated, alongside Marc Albrighton’s match winner, at Carrow Road.
Goals from Wakeling and Kasey McAteer for the development squad, in the opening match of the season against Manchester United Under-23s, were also included, along with Wakeling’s effort, at Fleetwood Town.
And, it was Maswanhise’s stunning equaliser at Blackburn Rovers, which nestled into the top corner from 20 yards out, which won the day.
“I think that’s one of my specialities in the game, it just changed the game, changed the mood and it got us back in it,” he said of the goal.
“I just thought, let me have a hit because all the other times I’ve taken my time and tried bending it in.
“But, this time I switched it up and just hit it. Every day in training (I practice), after the session, before the session, that’s why I’m doing it.”
The 18-year-old was named in the Premier League matchday squad at Manchester City by the Foxes manager, Brendan Rodgers, in the last campaign.
He was among the substitutes as City won 2-1 to earn their first victory at Old Trafford for more than 23 years.
Maswanhise was also part of the squad that won the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Chelsea.
He has now featured in four straight games in the development squad, beginning with the 2-2 draw at Manchester United Under-23, and then the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers.
He played another 90 minutes, in the 1-6 defeat to Crystal Palace Under-23, before featuring for 75 minutes, in the 3-1 home win over Everton, on Monday.
“It’s a good start to the season, I need to make sure I’m impressing the coaches.
“I came back, did pre-season with the first team and that gave me a lot of confidence.
“Starting the season with the Under-23s, my confidence is high at the moment, so we’ve just got to keep that momentum going,” he told the Leicester City television.
Leicester City development coach, Ben Petty, was pleased by Maswanhise’s second goal on Monday.
He told the Foxes’ website the Zimbabwean looked a good future prospect for the club.
“It was a fantastic second goal. He did it at Blackburn, he looks a livewire.
“Once he gets his physicality, and he grows into his body a little bit and believes in his ability, I think we’ve got a player on our hands,” said Petty.
Online Reporter