Head coach Enzo Maresca believes Kasey McAteer could become a key player for Leicester as his brace secured a 2-1 victory at Rotherham.
McAteer netted either side of a leveller from Fred Onyedinma to maintain the Foxes’ 100 per cent record this campaign and leave them out in front at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
The 21-year-old homegrown talent is establishing himself in the Italian’s side after enjoying loan spells at Forest Green and AFC Wimbledon in the past.
Maresca said: “I was very happy with him, for the two goals but also the way he works off the ball. He helps a lot.
“He is working the right way and he helps us out. I’m happy for him and the academy.
“I really like him, not just because he scored. I like the way he works and he sacrifices. He helps a lot without the ball. He is an important player.
“It was a very good performance. They score many goals from set-pieces, the delivery from Cafu is unbelievable. I think we were very good defensively. We fought in the right way.”
Rotherham thought they had gone ahead when Jordan Hugill touched in Cafu’s corner but referee Simon Hooper ruled the goal out after a long consultation with his assistant.
Leicester did take the lead after 12 minutes through McAteer, who was perfectly positioned to guide in Kelechi Iheanacho’s back-post cross.
Onyedinma levelled for Rotherham early in the second period as he managed to get enough of a touch on Andre Green’s cross to beat Hermansen.
Leicester snatched the three points clinically with seven minutes left to play when McAteer bent home after being found by Callum Doyle’s diagonal pass.
Rotherham manager Matt Taylor said: “We’re in a little bit of pain right now. Bar the first 45 minutes at Stoke we have competed and showed signs of being a really good team, but not picked up the points we deserved.
“We more than matched one of the best teams in the league. They just had a little bit more on the pitch and the bench.
“People spoke about what it was in terms of the levels of the opposition but it’s irrelevant – we have to be where we need to be and that is a front foot team.
“The players put everything into it, I just wish I could help them a little bit more.”
Taylor also explained the disallowed goal.
“I spoke to the officials and it was disallowed for two reasons. A foul on the goalkeeper and offside. Both were marginal,” added Taylor. “If that is a foul then a lot is going to get given from set-pieces.
“What happened in that moment does not excuse the lack of concentration for their goal.
“It was a well-worked goal from their point of view but poor from ourselves. The second goal was a mirror image. We just switched off.
“Little moments have let us down and gone against us.”
