Iheanacho injuries spark Celtic criticism

Celtic have been criticised for their treatment of Kelechi Iheanacho after the Nigerian striker suffered his second hamstring injury since joining the Scottish club in August.

Iheanacho lasted just 30 minutes during Celtic’s League Cup final defeat to St Mirren on Sunday before pulling his hamstring, having been Celtic’s best performer before the injury.

Football pundits Peter Martin and Tam McManus described the former Leicester City striker as a “panic buy” and accused Celtic of “battering” him with fitness work despite his lack of match sharpness after leaving Sevilla.

“Iheanacho does have good movement. Can hold the ball up. Can bring people in. Can create chances and get on the end of them as well,” Martin said on PLZ Soccer.

“But he isn’t fit. It’s a panic buy. He has pulled his hamstring twice. He was out of the game, and they had to bring on Johnny Kenny. The game was up. That’s down to Celtic waiting in August, and then bringing in a player who wasn’t up to match fitness.”

McManus added, “What they have done is, he wasn’t playing for Sevilla. They got him in the last minute. They have panicked. They have got him in. Battered him in the two weeks before he started playing, fitness-wise, to get him up to speed.

“Now he’s paying the price for that, for getting rushed. He has pulled his hamstring. Rushed back into the team for the weekend because they have nobody else, and now he has done it again. When he is fit, he looks like a good signing and a good player. But you can’t rely on him.”

Iheanacho arrived at Celtic on the recommendation of former manager Brendan Rodgers, who had previously coached him at Leicester City. However, Rodgers’ departure just a month after Iheanacho’s arrival left the 29-year-old struggling for direction at Parkhead.

The Nigerian forward had no pre-season after Sevilla terminated his contract and had hardly played during the 12 months before joining Celtic.

The injury setback comes amid turmoil at the club, with chairman Peter Lawwell stepping down from Celtic’s board following “abuse and threats” from supporters who have criticised the club’s transfer activity and long-term football strategy.

New manager Freddie Nancy, who previously coached Iheanacho during a short spell at Columbus Crew in the United States, now faces the challenge of rebuilding Celtic’s season without his injured striker.