Celtic’s striker saga a defining story of the season

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The Celtic Star

·7 November 2025

Celtic’s striker saga a defining story of the season

And then there were two. Celtic’s ongoing striker saga has become a defining story of the season, and beyond. And not in the way anyone at the club would have hoped…

Johnny Kenny of Celtic reacts Midtjylland vs Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Football, MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark – 06 November 2025. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock/IMAGO

Since January, the club have lurched from hesitation to miscalculation to outright bad luck, and the result is a squad now relying on Johnny Kenny and the re-emergence of Shin Yamada to shoulder the goalscoring burden.

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Shin Yamada. Hearts v Celtic, 26 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

It should never have come to this!

Kyogo’s departure was the catalyst, but the warning signs were flashing even before he left. The electric forward who thrived under Ange Postecoglou looked increasingly muted under Brendan Rodgers. Some argued Rodgers’ possession-heavy, low-volume chance creation system simply didn’t suit him. Others thought Kyogo himself had an eye on the exit, recognising he no longer fit a model that once allowed him to score for fun, even if it often took him a few chances to get there.

UEFA Champions League Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern, Celtic Park. Goal celebration by Kyogo Furuhashi however VAR rules out the goal. Photo Joeran Steinsiek IMAGO

Whatever the truth, one thing is certain, letting Kyogo go without a replacement lined up was an act of sheer negligence. Champions League fixtures still ahead, domestic silverware to play for, and Celtic gambled on finding a striker on the fly. It was a gamble that backfired spectacularly.

The club promoted Johnny Kenny from loan duty, then leaned on Adam Idah, only to sell him when the numbers didn’t add up – purchase price or regular goals.

Adam Idah celebrates with Callum McGregor after Loris Benito of BSC Young Boys concedes an own goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025.(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Idah was never the main man, but he was a useful rotation option, a role he clearly understood but wasn’t given the chance to grow into. The pressure told when more was asked of him, the fit was wrong, and off he went.

Then the dying embers of the transfer window brought another frantic search for a Kyogo replacement, and this time for Idah too. Celtic fumbled again, and again.

Mid-season Friendly, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 8/7/2025 Cork City vs Celtic Celtics Callum Osmand shoots at goal Callum Osmand shoots at goal 8/7/2025 Photo INPHO/Ken Sutton

In had come Callum Osmand from Fulham early in the transfer window, promising, but untested, without a single competitive senior appearance. From Japan arrived Shin Yamada, a forward with ability, but one coming off a J-League run about as far from prolific as possible. When a deal for a certain Danish international striker collapsed amid deadline-day chaos, the club turned to the free transfer market — or more accurately, Brendan Rodgers’ personal Rolodex.

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

That’s how Kelechi Iheanacho arrived. To his credit, he showed signs of being a useful squad forward, not prolific, but with a well-rounded toolkit. In truth, he looked ideal as an upgrade on Idah, a solid rotation man, not the main act.

But the main act never arrived

And then the injuries arrive. First Iheanacho drops out against Braga. Suddenly Celtic’s striker depth chart collapses, and shifts from patchy to precarious.

That leaves Johnny Kenny, lively in moments, promising in others, but raw. Shin Yamada, who seemed destined for the margins under Rodgers, and Callum Osmand. Kenny’s confidence likely took a dent when Martin O’Neill hooked him at half-time last night after a poor showing. The plan seemed clear as the second half progressed. Osmand would start against Kilmarnock.

Callum Osmand of Celtic is injured Midtjylland vs Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Football, MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark – 06 Nov 2025Herning MCH Arena Denmark: Photo Michael Zemane. IMAGO/Shutterstock

Then Celtic’s hamstring curse struck again

O’Neill must now decide, go back to Kenny and trust that his three goals in two games prior to last night’s showing were no fluke. Or roll the dice on Shin, the player Celtic scouted extensively as a goalscoring prospect, the version of him they thought they were buying, not the one whose numbers collapsed before the deal was sealed.

Johnny Kenny scores. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

It’s likely Kenny gets the nod. But Shin will almost certainly make the squad, and if he doesn’t start, he will feature. He needs to take that chance. And Celtic need him to take it.

He must have spent the first months of his Celtic career wondering what on earth he’d walked into. A manager who barely used him, and talk of him as nothing more than a club signing. Now, through crisis comes opportunity.

But make no mistake, this situation should never have existed in the first place. The club hesitated in January, sold without buying, and in the summer repeated the same recruitment mistakes we’ve seen too often, until Rodgers bailed them out with a player he knew and trusted.

For Iheanacho up front, read Schmeichel between the sticks from the summer before

Now Celtic must lean heavily on Kenny and Shin. Two strikers, one with confidence shaken, the other untested and barely played. This is not a strategic plan. It is the consequence of the lack of one. It all leads back to those decisions, or lack of decisions, made in January.

Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Dermot Desmond, largest shareholder and Michael Nicholson CEO are seen during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Now it will be a calendar year before we can sign a Kyogo replacement. And it is still the same faces we’ll lean on to conclude the deal. It certainly doesn’t offer much reassurance.

Niall J

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