Wilfred Ndidi featured for Leicester City on Monday night as they slumped to a disheartening 3-0 home defeat to Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United.
The loss, which deepened the Foxes’ relegation worries, leaves Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men languishing in 19th place with just 17 points on the board.
Despite Leicester’s collective collapse, Ndidi’s individual performance stood out for its composure and effort in an otherwise chaotic evening. The Nigerian midfielder completed the full 90 minutes, making his 22nd Premier League appearance of the 2024/2025 campaign.
While his output was not spectacular, it certainly wasn't lacking, especially in comparison to the underwhelming displays from Leicester’s attacking players.
Numbers don’t lie: Ndidi’s quiet efficiency for Leicester
Leicester were three goals down by halftime, largely due to individual defensive lapses, none of which Ndidi was responsible for. The Nigerian international's discipline saw him pick up a single yellow card but he did not commit any costly errors. His focus remained intact even as the game slipped away.
Ndidi’s performance was a masterclass in tidiness and ball retention. He registered a remarkable 92% pass accuracy, completing 45 of his 49 attempted passes. Out of 63 touches, he contributed one key pass and attempted four long balls, with two finding their target.
Going forward, the former KRC Genk youngster wasn’t the driving force, but he played his part. He made one attempt at dribbling past an opponent, albeit unsuccessfully, and was active in initiating forward plays that lacked final-third support. The Foxes won 10 corners but failed to convert any, managing just five shots all game, with only two troubling the goalkeeper.
Defensively, the 28-year-old was solid. He made three interceptions and two tackles, and wasn’t dribbled past once during the match. He also contested five ground duels (winning two) and three aerial duels (winning one). While these figures may not be eye-catching, they paint the picture of a player doing his job amid a team struggling for cohesion and confidence.
