Kelechi Iheanacho has insisted that he is fully focused on helping Celtic towards success this season despite speculation about his future. The 29-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular place in the squad due to injuries and fitness concerns.
However, the Nigerian striker came off the bench to score Celtic’s winner at Dens Park, taking a touch from a Marcelo Saracchi cross before firing the ball into Jon McCracken’s net.
Speaking after the game, Iheanacho was probed on his future but the former Man City forward insisted that his focus was the remaining games this season and talks about his future would have to wait.
“I think in terms of that, we’re literally focusing now on the games going forward. Anything that concerns the contract will be maybe after the season, after we achieve our goals.”
Iheanacho insisted that his fitness issues were behind him and he was ready to start games for Celtic as they look to hunt down Hearts and Rangers. The mentality of the player is also encouraging, that the spells on the sidelines forced him to keep working in a bid to contribute to the team.
“Yeah, obviously when you’re injured as a player it’s really difficult. Sometimes you could put your head down and all that.
“Obviously, you support your team, but it’s really sad sometimes not getting on the pitch, contributing to the club that signed you.
“So it’s really sad sometimes. But you just need to keep going and work hard to get your rehab done and get ready to come back stronger to help the team.
“I’m sure I’m fit to start games, but obviously it’s up to the manager to pick who he wants to start the games. But I’m really sure I’m perfectly okay to start games.”
Celtic have badly missed a focal point in attack with Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu and Johnny Kenny all failing to take their chances when put through the middle. Iheanacho has shown himself to be a quality operator, even if his mobility appears to be somewhat limited.
It remains to be seen who will assume control of the Celtic first team next year and whether there will be a change in structure, with a Director of Football coming in. Importantly, Celtic shouldn’t be making decisions on next season until these questions are answered.
There’s no denying that the striker position has possibly been our biggest problem position this season imo?
There has been no shortage of options available, but a massive shortage in filling the position to sufficient standards for ourselves.
8 different options used in the position to date this season, and even 4 potentially available to see the season out at present, within our squad.
Even now, 2 will be within a match day squad, up to 3 if you include Maeda as another option is how I see MoN and Maloney seeing out the season imo?
Kelchi should be 1 of those 2 options in the striker position, within our match day squad imo?
As for next season, I still think that a squad will be made up of at least 3 striker options within it imo?
Osmand could well be considered for filling 1 of those 3 positions. But still think that the other 2 options, will hopefully be filled by better than we already have?
Therefore kelchi would need a massive end to the season, within the next 7/8 matches available for both himself, with ourselves benefiting.
Of course it’s possible for kelchi and cvancara to deliver, in order for themselves to be in the reckoning for a striker role with ourselves next season?
Personally wouldn’t be overly confident upon them able to deliver sufficiently imo?
Yet any goal contributions would be most welcoming within the run in all the same