Iheanacho mystery – Martin’s just easing Kelechi back to match fitness

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The Celtic Star

·23. Februar 2026

Iheanacho mystery – Martin’s just easing Kelechi back to match fitness

Iheanacho mystery, but could Martin just be easing him back in?…

Yang Hyun-Jun and Kelechi Iheanacho are seen during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on February 01, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Kelechi Iheanacho hasn’t had the best of luck in his Celtic career, mainly due to injury, and playing under four different managers (if you count Martin O’Neill twice) hasn’t exactly helped him to bed in and show his true form.

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Kelechi made an appearance from the bench in Thursday’s battering by VfB Stuttgart, despite being absent from several league squads, and was once more left out of the squad for yesterday’s home defeat by Hibs.

This has led to supporters scratching their heads as to why he has been regularly omitted, especially when we are needing all the firepower we can muster at this moment. The Nigerian International is a class act, and has shown that in flashes during his fleeting Celtic career, but he has yet to accumulate a run of games in a bid to prove his true worth.

Kelechi Iheanacho during the Premier Sports Cup Final match between St Mirren and Celtic at Hampden Park on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Vagelis Georgariou, The Celtic Star)

Some have been suggesting that his attitude is the reasoning behind his regular snubs but that’s wide of the mark. There could be another explanation behind this, and it’s one that is much more likely in my opinion.

Kelechi seems prone to hamstring problems, and after a previous spell on the treatment table he was rushed back into action by Wilfried Nancy when he was named in the starting XI for Decembers Premier Sports Cup Final, which backfired spectacularly as he was taken off with a recurrence of the same injury, and wasn’t seen again until a few weeks ago.

Kelechi Iheanacho is injured during the Premier Sports Cup Final match between St Mirren and Celtic at Hampden Park on December 14, 2025. (Photo by Vagelis Georgariou, The Celtic Star)

It could well be that the veteran Irishman is trying to gently push the ex Manchester City and Leicester man into the side, especially with a stack of vital games on the horizon.

Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic scores his team a goal as Mile Svilar of AS Roma fails to make a save, which is disallowed following a VAR review during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Celtic FC and AS Roma at Celtic Park on December 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

We need all the ability and experienced figures we can muster with the title race going into overdrive, and Kelechi is a player who falls into that category. Expect to see more of him in the coming weeks, starting on Thursday night’s dead rubber in Stuttgart, a fixture Martin O’Neill could see far enough given the first leg score. The interim Celtic manager will want to rest as many legs as possible from his likely starting XI for Ibrox on Sunday when hopefully the real Celtic will stand up.

Red Star Belgrade 1-1 Celtic.Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates his goal Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock

Another player who will be on the plane to Germany and almost certain to start is Auston Trusty who got himself sent off rather foolishly yesterday and as a result Celtic went from chasing a winner to losing the three points. Trusty will be charged with making amends in Stuttgart because he’s suspended for the Glasgow Derby at Ibrox.

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