Hamza Choudhury
'Show the manager' – Hamza Choudhury knows what he must do to fill in for injured Wilfred Ndidi
Leicester City midfielder is likely to play a prominent role over the next month with Ndidi out until February after knee surgery
Brendan Rodgers and Hamza Choudhury chat after Leicester City's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa (Image: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)
Hamza Choudhury knows there will be lots of "dirty work" to do if he is to successfully fill the void left by Wilfred Ndidi.
Choudhury is likely to be given the nod by Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers in Ndidi's absence, the Nigerian midfielder ruled out until next month after picking up a knee injury in training.
While the academy graduate believes a quick return to fitness for Ndidi would be the best news for City, he is also keen to take his chance, and hopes he can show off his best attributes in the defensive midfield role.
"Wilf's been amazing this season so for the team it's best if he's fit as soon as possible," Choudhury said after the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Wednesday.
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"I feel like these opportunities that I get I need to take to show the manager that I can fill in when he needs me.
"[Ndidi] does so much of the dirty work that the team needs, especially when you're playing against attacking teams. But like the gaffer says, he wants to defend from the front.
"When you've got that little barrier in front of the back four, it helps a lot. He cleans up a lot and keeps us ticking.
"I feel like that's a strong point in my game, to win the ball back and try to circulate it and try to play forward as much as I can into the two number eights or out wide."
Choudhury showed that there should not be too much concern over Ndidi's absence with a fine performance from the bench against Villa.
After he was introduced as a half-time substitute, the 22-year-old kept the visitors penned into their own half by continuously winning the ball back, making the vital interception in the build-up to Kelechi Iheanacho's equaliser.
"The manager at half-time said we needed a bit more energy, to go on, press high and nick the ball in their half, so obviously we're going to create more chances that way," Choudhury said.
"I went in and tried to bring as much energy as I could and thankfully it helped the team out."
But he is not a one-trick pony, as he proved on New Year's Day with a superb first goal for his hometown club, Choudhury bending in the final strike in a 3-0 win over Newcastle.
"I feel like if I can pop up with another couple before the end of the season, that would be nice," he added.
Wilfred Ndidi