Leicester City Fan View: Time to develop Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy's partnership

Despite being comfortably mid table now, there’s no sign of Leicester City taking their foot off the gas. Not with a chance of finishing eighth still. So while there’s little chance of experimentation with academy players, it could be the perfect chance to truly test the Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy partnership.

It’s not been an ideal debut season in the Premier League for the Algerian striker. He was the biggest signing of the transfer window, costing more than several of our other signings combined. The deal was also rushed, completed mere hours before the window closed. With his appearances limited to just twelve Premier League starts and a further eight substitutions, it’s widely felt that the risk we took in signing him with a niggling groin injury, of which we were aware, hasn’t paid off. At least not yet.

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It’s a conclusion that seems a little harsh. Despite his lack of match time, his goal return has been quite good when you look at the ratio. He’s scored eight and also contributed to more goals with four assists. It’s worth pointing out that his goals have also been important ones, perhaps most notably his Champions League goal. He’s merely been let down by the persistent injuries. We’re a club who pride themselves on our forward thinking approach to sports science and recovery techniques. So if we can finally get him past it, there’s a potential for a bright future.

It’s going to be an important summer for both Slimani and the club. The striker likely needs full rest or perhaps even an operation to finally put the issues to bed. The club will probably want to replace Leonardo Ulloa who will surely move on to find more regular playing time. With Vardy very much our main striker, the focus will be on alternative options or those who can partner and help him. This is perhaps where the other big question mark for the Algerian comes from. Can he play second fiddle or a more support based role? In most previous circumstances he is the focal point, the main striker.

Will Slimani stay? This part is entirely unknown. What’s not a secret is that he was influenced heavily in joining the Foxes by Algerian compatriot and friend, Riyad Mahrez. The latter’s been circled by rumours of his own departure for around a year now and if he does finally make a move, that may have its own bearing. If he does stay though and we can keep him fit, he may finally get to make his mark on the league.

He wouldn’t be the first player who’s taken time to adapt to the Premier League and it certainly doesn’t help when his debut season has been so stop-start. It’s also worth noting that the majority of his games so far came with Claudio Ranieri still in charge. We as a side were struggling. We’re yet to see him get a full game under his belt with Craig Shakespeare at the helm and the team in a much healthier place.

There’s certainly a huge potential for him. There’s no reason he can’t become a prominent partner for Vardy either. The pair compliment each other well. What Slimani lacks in pace, Vardy has in abundance. The Algerian may be slower but his height pays dividends and he’s got a superb first touch and ball control. It may well suit our style of distributing quickly from the back. Slimani can hold up the ball and knock through for Vardy to run onto. If we can nail a system that accommodates both, it’s a pairing that will cause problems for the opposition.

For some, it’s felt that he doesn’t fit into the club. Whether through personality, which seems unfair, or due to our style of play. Having been written off at an early age and having worked his way to the top levels of football, you can’t say he doesn’t fit our type in that sense. Perhaps the issue is that while trying to accommodate him earlier in the season, we tried moving Vardy behind him which didn’t really work. However, he’s proven he can fit a system with the rest of our squad. See the Manchester City game for example and his Champions League displays. He also offers us the option of a big, lone striker if required or if Vardy is ever absent.

He provides an additional aerial threat for us. With his height and positioning, he’s a dream for a winger like Marc Albrighton whose first thought is usually to whip a cross into the box. With Slimani’s injuries ruling him out for the most part, this is another pairing we’ve yet to see the full potential of, but the promise is there. It’s been a brilliant season for the winger and with three games still to go, there’s time to put this combination to the test still.

There’s already evidence that he can act as the play-maker when required too. While it’s gone under the radar a little, his run against Watford saw four defenders follow him, allowing Albrighton a free run and shot for our third goal. It was a perfect decoy. Not bad for a striker who’s accused of being selfish by some.

It would be a shame for us to sell him without having really given him the time to find his rhythm and place in the side. His goal-scoring record for both Algeria and Sporting Lisbon can’t have been flukes. We know he’s a classy finisher. It’s what makes him worth keeping for at least another season. There’s that feeling that if you get the ball to his head, it’s going in and it would be nice to see him make an impact and prove a few people wrong.

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