IS KELECHI IHEANACHO CELTIC’S CUP FINAL HERO IN WAITING?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 19 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Ever since Brendan Rodgers walked out of Celtic Park for the final time back in October, speculation has been rife that his last signing Kelechi Iheanacho would soon follow his two-time former boss out the exit door.
Of course, the vicious, and utterly fabricated, online gossip around his personal life coupled with an unfortunate injury timing left many wondering just what was going on with the player.
Well, he’s back and his performance in the second half against Roma on Thursday night was one of very few highlights on a rough night for Celtic.
Is Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic’s Cup Final Wildcard?
I think most of us are resigned to losing Daizen Maeda next month. However, while he’s here, it seems he would be best utilized on left wing. Sebastian Tounekti is a player who flatters to deceive at the moment. Sometimes he looks like a genius. Other times, he seems one-dimensional and lacking any creative inspiration.
It is true that Maeda hasn’t been brilliant lately either, which is perhaps another reason why we should remove the center forward responsibilities from him.
However, while it is just a small spell, in the midst of game Celtic had already lost by the time he came on, there was a fire about Iheanacho the other night. He had a drive and a determination that I haven’t seen in him before.
Obviously, he won’t be oblivious to the social media speculation, nor the none too subtle implications in the press that Celtic only signed him because Brendan Rodgers was doing him a favor.
In Kelechi Iheanacho, I saw a player on Thursday night with a point to prove, and what better place to do it than a cup final at Hampden, at a time when our new manager badly needs his first win to steady the ship, and prove his tactics can win games.
He needs to start the game. Not just because we need a new impetus up front, but also because, Iheanacho isn’t afraid of a sturdy challenge either.
Two things we can absolutely expect from St. Mirren tomorrow, almost military levels of organization, and as much physicality as the referee will let them away with.
Iheanacho can stand up to that. He is the closest thing Celtic have to a true target man at the moment. With a rejuvenate Yang on the right, and hopefully a more comfortable Daizen on the left providing the service, I think we have the makings of a plan.
I truly believe that, with a bit of luck, we could wake up to headlines on Monday morning proclaiming Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic’s Cup Final Hero!
And he might just save his new boss from another utterly over the top media deluge in the process.