Johnny Kenny’s weirdest season – Why Celtic sent him on loan

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The Celtic Star

·23 April 2026

Johnny Kenny’s weirdest season – Why Celtic sent him on loan

Johnny Kenny’s been re-writing history a little as he puts his Celtic exit in January down to a few games in which he underperformed…

Johnny Kenny of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

That night at Tannadice Johnny was probably enough for the Celtic support in the crowd as we watched with astonishment the different ways you could conceive to go about missing the target. Poor old Wilfried Nancy was needing a break and that game should have been out of sight by the interval but all we had to show for it was a Daizen Maeda goal and at least a hat-trick of terrible misses from yourself.

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

Martin O’Neill would have been watching at to be fair to him he certainly did give you your chances in his first spell as interim manager. But Celtic needed a reliable goalscorer upfront and his conclusion was that it wasn’t going to be you for the rest of the season as he looked at bringing in re-enforcements in January and allowing you to go out on loan to Bolton Wanderers League One to re-build your confidence.

I’d say that was a pretty sensible outcome that works out well for all parties. Celtic brought in replacements, admittedly none have set the heather on fire, you have made nan impact out on loan and are talking up making the play-offs and hoping to get promotion to the Championship.

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

Bolton are aware that Celtic will require a £1m fee to sign you on a permanent basis and your goals and performances are making that a more probably outcome which will suit all parties this coming summer, especially if Bolton do get promoted.

Here’s the latest from the on-loan Celtic striker who seems to feel a little hard-done by due to Martin O’Neill sanctioning a loan move in January.

“It’s been a whirlwind, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” Johnny Kenny told Bolton News. “It’s probably one of the weirdest seasons of my career, but probably, I would say, one of the best for the learnings and the experiences.

Johnny Kenny celebrates. Celtic v Falkirk. 29 October 2025. Scottish Premiership, photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

“At the end of August, when we signed a striker on deadline day, I thought I was going to struggle for minutes, but I got opportunities, and I’ve done pretty well. I’ve score goals for Celtic, I’ve scored in a Glasgow derby.

“I played a lot, started a lot of games, and then just two or three games of not being clinical, ruthless in front of goals, it changed, and I came down here to Bolton, and I think I started life pretty well,” Kenny said.

He added: “I’m thoroughly enjoying the challenge, and it’s time to step up. We need to put the work in so we get to the opportunity of the play-offs and then, in a play-off, I’d fancy ourselves against anyone.

Kelechi Iheanacho and Johnny Kenny. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“That was my desire. I wasn’t coming down here just to relax. I just wanted to come here to work and to apply my trade the best way possible because I know if I do that, we can get the results we want.”

Best of luck to Bolton Wanderers as they eye promotion, with Johnny Kenny playing a major role in helping to achieve that. A £1m deal in the summer will probably suit all parties.

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