MARTIN O’NEILL has admitted Kelechi Iheanacho is “a bit of a concern”.
The Nigerian international striker signed a one-season deal for Celtic in UEFA deadline day in September with the club holding the option of another year on his contract.
The 29-year-old frontman scored with a stoppage-time penalty-kick to give the champions a dramatic 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park shortly after his arrival.
The former Manchester City and Leicester City attacker also netted in the 1-1 Europa League draw with Red Star in Belgrade before the month was out and there were high hopes the player, who had been freed by Sevilla before being snapped up by the Hoops.
HEAVEN’S ABOVE…Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates his Celtic debut winner against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in September.
He also claimed a strike in the hard-fought 3-2 win over Motherwell at Parkhead early in October. However, Iheanacho has not got on the scoresheet with first-team appearances few and far between.
The talented forward limped off with hamstring trouble early in the dismal 3-1 loss to St Mirren in the Premier Sports League Cup Final in mid-December and has been a bit-part player since then.
The clock is now ticking on his contract at the champions and Martin O’Neill, speaking to the Daily Record, admitted: “I don’t think Kelechi has played that much during the course of the season, to tell you the truth.
“But I think he’s got a good ability to hold it up.
“It’s just in terms of full fitness and things, that’s a bit of a concern.”
Iheanacho missed out on the matchday squad for Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Ibrox and will be hoping to be involved at some stage against Aberdeen tonight.
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