Johnny Kenny finally got up and running as a Celtic player yesterday afternoon against Austrian minnows SC Wiener Viktoria, scoring twice and being denied his hat-trick by the poaching instincts of French defender Christopher Jullien who reacted fractionally quicker when Kenny’s effort came off the post to beat the Irish teenager to the open goal to head home.
Kenny arrived from Sligo Rovers in the January transfer window, Celtic’s fifth and until yesterday somewhat forgotten signing with the likes of Maeda, Hatate and O’Riley all arriving that month and going on to grab the headlines.
Our other January arrival, Ideguchi played yesterday and looked really useful in the middle of the park.
Kenny had an injury when we arrived and then got the dreaded Covid 19 and he was looking at a Celtic first team with Giorgos Giakoumakis leading the line and Kyogo coming back so his opportunities were going to be very much at the B-Team level for his settling in spell at Celtic.
READ THIS…Match Report: SC Wiener Viktoria 0-7 Celtic
Yesterday was his first big chance to show Ange Postecoglou what he could do in a Celtic shirt playing for the first team. And the 19 year old didn’t disappoint.
Speaking afterwards to Celtic TV, Kenny was understandably pleased at grabbing his first two Celtic goals. “It’s been good to get out with the team for the first game and to top it off with a 7-0 nil win and to get those two goals it’s a good start.
“The intensity of training so far have been sky high, it’s been tough but very enjoyable at the same time. I’ve been learning off of Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Albian Ajeti, you can’t go far wrong with that!
“For the first goal, Mikey Johnston did well, I’ve played with him before so he knew he would find me at the back post and thankfully i’ve been able to finish it off.
“For the second goal there was a bit of luck involved. Alexandro Bernabei whipped it in quite quickly so I got a bit lucky but I had to keep it alive and finish it first time.
“The gaffer wants us to press high and get after teams in the top end of the pitch. The gaffer really likes the press, so we really try to go for it, it’s been good to learn and get to grips with it.”
And they were clearly watching back home in Ireland…
Johnny Kenny scores first celtic goal of the season pic.twitter.com/LJ8vrlgezY
— Sligo Leitrim Soccer (@DslSligo) July 6, 2022
Ajeti could do with learning from Kenny not the other way around!