The Nigerian striker, who joined on loan from Everton in January, ended his six-game goal drought with a hat-trick against former club Middlesbrough in a 3-3 draw at the Riverside on Saturday to take his tally to seven goals in 13 appearances.
Yakubu has admitted he would like to make his loan move permanent but Eriksson believes it is dependent on Leicester winning promotion to the Premier League, and the Swede insists Yakubu has a vital role to play if City are to make that possible.
"I'd guess that if, touch wood, we make the play-offs and are successful, then bringing Yakubu in on a permanent transfer will be a very hot issue," Eriksson told the Leicester Mercury.
"If not, then I doubt that it will happen. It will probably depend on us going up and that, of course, depends on him and his goals.
"He's very important for us. Now he's back among the goals, I hope he'll stay like this for the rest of the season."
Source: PA
