COMEBACK BHOY Alistair Johnston has labelled Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic’s ‘ice man’ as the champions turn up the heat on Hearts in the dramatic race for the title.
With three games to go, the Hoops are three points behind the Edinburgh club who came back from a goal down at the interval to overcome Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side 2-1 at Tynecastle last night, as CQN reported.
Only a miracle can revive the Govan club’s hopes after dropping seven points behind Derek McInnes’ team and four adrift of Celtic following back-to-back defeats from Motherwell and Hearts.
And Martin O’Neill’s side have the opportunity to pile on the misery at Parkhead on Sunday to ensure their Glasgow rivals endure another year in the silverware wilderness.
CAPITAL PERFORMANCE…Alistair Johnston enjoying his first start in six months in the 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road.
Long-term crock Johnston, who made his first start since October in the 2-1 victory over Hibs at Easter Road at the weekend, is in no doubt that Iheanacho will play a key role in the remaining games against Rohl’s outfit, Motherwell at Fir Park a week tomorrow and the anticipated crescendo against the Gorgie club in the east end of Glasgow three days later.
The Canadian World Cup star was certainly impressed by the composed finishing qualities of the former Manchester City and Leicester City hitman who joined the Hoops in September after being released by Sevilla.
The Nigerian international forward made a quickfire impact in Leith when he claimed the winner two minutes after replacing Yang Hyun-jun with 20 minutes to go.
It was the third time the poised and assured attack-leader has struck with a late points-clincher after earlier crucial strikes in the 2-1 triumph over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in September and the 2-1 success over Dundee at Dens Park last month.
The latest in the series came after Kieran Tierney had thundered in a right-wing corner-kick that took a nick off the pile of players at the near post.
The ricochet dropped to Iheanacho who took the ball on his chest, waited for it to fall out of the air and then calmly stroked it with his left foot past the flummoxed Jordan Smith.
FIRST-CLASS DELIVERY…Alistair Johnston (extreme left) looks on as Daizen Maeda prepares to fire his cross into the Hibs net for the opening goal.
Reflecting on the match-winning moment, Johnston said: “I mean, Kelechi’s heart-rate, I don’t think ever gets above 60 beats-per-minute. So, I’m not surprised by that.
“How long was it before the ball came down to his foot? It felt like time stopped. But that’s Kels.
“And, again, that’s what that quality can bring. And that’s what we have in this squad.
“We’ve got players who have played at really high levels and have that kind of quality.
“It’s amazing to be able to bring a player like that off the bench. You can see the quality. Just cool, calm and composed.
“He’s a bit of an ice man. It was obviously a massive goal for us.”
COOL KEL…Celtic hitman Kelechi Iheanacho strokes in the winner with Hibs keeper Jordan Smith rooted to the spot.
Johnston lasted just over an hour before being replaced by Luke McCowan in Edinburgh, but his presence was welcomed by team-mates and fans alike and was highlighted by his wicked low cross from the right that set up Daizen Maeda to ram in the opener four minutes from the interval.
After six months on the sidelines, the energetic defender, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Just glad to get back, finally feeling a part of it. It was a nice feeling to be back out there, for sure.
“That was my first kind of match under Martin O’Neill, just trying to figure out how he wants a full-back to play versus how I play and finding that happy medium where it works for his kind of style.
“It fits into my kind of profile and how I like to play, as well.”
Johnston also applauds the efforts of his playing colleagues in a testing season for everyone, on and off the pitch.
JOY BHOYS…James Forrest and Kelechi Iheanacho are all smiles after the Nigerian striker’s composed finish for Celtic’s winner at Easter Road.
He added: “I’ve seen how they’ve fought, how they’ve worked day in, day out up at the training ground. So it’s no surprise to me that we’re still finding ways to grind out results, no matter how it’s happened.
“I’m just trying to play my part at the end of the day. I’m not the number nine coming in, hopefully going to score six goals in the last couple of games!
“I’m just going to try and chip in whatever way I can. And that’s been the great part about this squad is we’ve always had such depth here.”
Now Johnston and Co will be asked to plunge into their reserves of strength and character in the crucial run-in, continuing on Sunday against Rohl’s club.
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