Iheanacho Shines with Two Assists in Middlesbrough Win
Kelechi Iheanacho continued his return to form with a brilliant display for Middlesbrough, providing two assists in their 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Friday night.
The Nigerian striker joined Boro during the winter transfer window but found it hard to settle in at first. He struggled to impress in his early games and was later dropped from the Super Eagles squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, despite being named in the provisional 39-man list.
However, since the international break, Iheanacho has found his rhythm again. He scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in a 2-1 win over Oxford United and followed that up with a strong performance at Ewood Park.
In just the second minute of the match against Blackburn, Iheanacho set up Tommy Conway with a clever pass. Conway flicked the ball behind and fired it past goalkeeper Aynsley Pears to open the scoring.
Only six minutes later, Iheanacho was involved again. This time, he provided a perfect assist for Samuel Iling-Junior, who finished off a great team move to make it 2-0.
The win lifted Middlesbrough to fifth place in the Championship table, keeping them in the race for a playoff spot and a possible return to the Premier League.
Iheanacho’s recent form has boosted both his club’s hopes and his own chances of returning to the Nigeria national team. He will be hoping to earn a spot in the upcoming four-nation friendly tournament in June, as he aims to prove himself ahead of the remaining World Cup qualifiers.
