Celtic Football Club faces intense scrutiny over its handling of Kelechi Iheanacho after the Nigerian international sustained his second significant hamstring injury since arriving at Parkhead in August. The forward managed only 30 minutes of action during Celtic’s League Cup final loss to St Mirren on Sunday before his injury forced an early exit.
Despite being the team’s most effective player in the opening stages, the 29-year-old now faces another extended period on the sidelines, sparking a debate regarding the club’s medical and recruitment strategies.
Prominent football analysts Peter Martin and Tam McManus have labeled the former Leicester City attacker a “panic buy,” suggesting that the club’s late-window scramble resulted in the acquisition of an underprepared athlete.
The pundits accused the Celtic coaching staff of “battering” Iheanacho with high-intensity fitness drills to compensate for his lack of a proper pre-season following his departure from Sevilla. Martin noted on PLZ Soccer that while the striker possesses undeniable quality in movement and link-up play, his physical condition was never adequate for immediate competitive action.
McManus further argued that the decision to rush Iheanacho back into the starting lineup for a major final—due to a lack of alternative options—represented a failure in long-term squad planning. The striker’s arrival was originally facilitated by former manager Brendan Rodgers, whose exit just weeks later left the player in a state of professional flux.
Having played very little football in the twelve months preceding his move to Glasgow, Iheanacho’s body appears to be rejecting the sudden physical demands of the Scottish game.
This latest sporting setback coincides with significant administrative instability at Celtic Park. Chairman Peter Lawwell recently announced his resignation from the board, citing “intolerable abuse and threats” from a fanbase increasingly frustrated by the club’s perceived lack of direction and poor transfer market performance.
New head coach Wilfried Nancy, who previously mentored Iheanacho at Columbus Crew, now inherits the daunting task of stabilizing the squad and salvaging the season without his primary offensive weapon.
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