There was a heart-warming moment at full-time yesterday as Mark Fotheringham and Kelechi Iheanacho shared an embrace following Celtic’s crucial 2-1 victory over Dundee…
Fotheringham – who has become a popular figure among supporters during his time on Martin O’Neill’s coaching staff – showed his delight after seeing the team grind out an important result away at Dens.
For Iheanacho, it marked a particularly big moment in a Celtic jersey, having endured a lengthy spell throughout the season without starts under the interim management due to fitness and injury concerns.
His decisive goal late on – one that could prove pivotal in the Scottish Premiership title race – sparked an emotional exchange between the pair after the final whistle.
Television footage captured the two sharing a brief celebratory moment, with Fotheringham making the sign of the cross alongside Iheanacho, whose expression reflected the significance of the occasion.
The timing added further context, coming on Easter Sunday, while Iheanacho is known for being open about his Christian faith and Nigerian heritage.
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Post-match, O’Neill also acknowledged Iheanacho’s contribution, praising the striker for his perseverance following his performance at Tannadice two weeks ago.
O’Neill said via PLZ Soccer: “That would be great for him, really great. He’s had a really frustrating time since he’s been here. When I arrived, first of all, he was recovering from a hamstring, which he’d got after, I think, about five minutes in the game.”
“And then Wilfried put him into the side and he pulled the hamstring again in the cup final. So he’s been fighting back from that.”
“I’ve had a chat with him to say to him that he’s been a really fine player in his career. And he should be, really, at 29, he should be at the peak of his career, rather than, you know, sometimes maybe just scratching around. So I think that’s the point.”
It was Iheanacho’s first league goal from open play since joining Celtic in August. His contract is up at the end of the season but there is an option for the club to extend the deal an extra year.
Conor Spence
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