Yakubu wants Leicester stay
Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu is enjoying a new lease of life at Leicester City and is keen on making his loan move from Everton a permanent deal at the end of the season, especially if they secure promotion to the Premier League.
The 28-year-old Nigerian international joined the Foxes in January and has played a key role in helping the side push for one the Championship play-off places.
Leicester are currently 11th on the log standings but only the top-two sides will secure automatic promotion to the Premier League with the third promotion berth going to the eventual winner of the play-off involving the third to sixth placed sides on the table.
“I would love to stay. I hope we get promoted. I want to be here and I know the club want to be in the Premier League,” Yakubu told the BBC yesterday.
“It was a big decision to leave Everton but I love to be on the pitch.”
Eriksson factor
Yakubu was utilised as a bit-part player at Everton before Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson offered him a lifeline by bringing him over to the Walkers Stadium.
“It was really, really frustrating sitting on the bench and playing 10 to 20 minutes, so I had to look for somewhere else,” he continued.
“I had some offers abroad but I have enjoyed my stay here in England. I have been here for like seven to eight years, and I feel at home here.
“The football here is good, the passion here is good and to get the opportunity to come to Leicester, to be here with a great manager who knows how to talk to his players and make them believe in themselves,” Yakubu said, with reference to the Swedish-born former England manager.
“He never puts you under pressure. He just wants you to get on the pitch and feel free to do what you want to do. That’s why I made the decision to come to Leicester and I’m enjoying it.”
Five points separate Leicester from sixth-placed Nottingham Forest but there are still nine games to go until the end of the season and Yakubu believes the Foxes can gain some ground on the teams ahead of them on the log.
“At the moment, I’m not thinking of a top-two finish. We’re thinking about being in the play-off position,” he said.
“We have to believe. I believe in myself and I believe we’re going to be there especially if we keep working hard like we did last week.”
Yakubu has made 12 appearances for the Foxes and has found the back of the net four times but he hasn’t scored in his last four appearances.
He is however not bothered about the temporary setback.
“I’m not under pressure,” he said. “That’s football for you but you have to live with the pressure.
“I’m used to it so it doesn’t bother me. I know I will start scoring and we have nine games to go.”
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