Kelechi Iheanacho: Manchester City Legend Explains What Striker Must Do To Succeed at Celtic
- Joe Hart is backing Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho to revive his career at Celtic under Brendan Rodgers
- Iheanacho joined Celtic after the transfer deadline day, following a difficult spell at Spanish club Sevilla
- The Super Eagles striker has had a troubled 12 months and had his contract terminated by the La Liga club
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is backing Kelechi Iheanacho to rediscover his form at Celtic after a troubled spell in Spain.
The Super Eagles striker joined the Scottish champions on a one-year deal following the termination of his contract with Sevilla, where he struggled to make an impact.
Source: Getty Images
Hart, who spent three seasons at Celtic before retiring, believes Iheanacho’s quality has never been in doubt despite his recent failings in Spain, Daily Record reports.
Speaking about Iheanacho, the former Manchester City goalkeeper noted that the move to Celtic under could be exactly what the Nigerian striker needs at this stage of his career.
“There’s a player in him. The quality is there. It’s just about whether he wants to put it in. Brendan knows him well, and that relationship could help him feel settled and focused again.”
A look at Iheanacho’s troubles in Sevilla
Iheanacho’s career took a difficult turn after he left Leicester City for Sevilla last summer.
Source: Getty Images
The 28-year-old found minutes hard to come by in La Liga and failed to convince the management, leading to a mutual termination of his contract at the beginning of this season.
Iheanacho’s arrival at Celtic also followed criticism from fans who were disappointed with the club’s lack of a deadline-day striker signing.
His move, however, offers both parties a chance at redemption, but for Iheanacho, it is an opportunity to restore his confidence.
Hart, reflecting on his own experience of reviving his career in Glasgow, stressed that Iheanacho must be willing to put in the hard work, The National reports.
“It’s about whether he wants to be in the room,” Hart explained.
“When you know the coach and what he expects of you, you can have truthful conversations. That could make all the difference for him.”
Iheanacho’s career in stats
Despite his recent struggles, Iheanacho’s career achievements have been nothing short of remarkable.
The Super Eagles forward broke into Manchester City’s first team as a teenager, winning the League Cup in 2016.
Iheanacho will later move to Leicester City, where he, along with Super Eagles teammate Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy, helped the club win the FA Cup in 2021.
With Nigeria, Iheanacho was part of the Super Eagles squad that won silver at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, losing the final narrowly to the Ivory Coast.
Now at Celtic, Iheanacho will be tasked with leading the line in both domestic competitions and the Champions League.
For Rodgers, who worked with Iheanacho during his time in England, the move represents a calculated gamble on a player he knows well.
Finidi sends message to troubled Iheanacho
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that former Super Eagles manager Finidi George is displeased at how Sevilla have handled Iheanacho and sent a message to the former Leicester City striker.
Iheanacho joined Sevilla in the summer of 2024 as a free agent after running down his Leicester City contract, where he spent seven years, winning the FA Cup in 2021.
Source: Legit.ng
