Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has tipped Kelechi Iheanacho to become a key figure at the club, praising the Nigerian forward as a “natural striker” ready to lead the champions’ attack.
Iheanacho joined Celtic on a free transfer earlier this month after leaving Spanish side Sevilla.
Despite limited pre-season action, the 27-year-old has wasted no time making an impact, contributing either a goal or an assist in each of his first three games.
Iheanacho’s fast start sparks Celtic optimism
The former Leicester City forward quickly won over the Celtic Park faithful, coming off the bench to score the match-winning goal on his debut in a tense victory over Kilmarnock.
Speaking ahead of the Scottish Premiership clash with Hibernian, Rodgers acknowledged the squad is still finding balance after a difficult summer but highlighted Iheanacho’s seamless adaptation.
“It’s a consequence of where we were from the summer,” Rodgers said. “So, we have to look to find it. It’s not as natural as it was last year in some ways, but I think we can see opportunities there, like Kelechi coming into the team. I know he’s a natural striker, and he can do really good things for us. That is part of the challenge, filling in the gaps where we have some.”
Rodgers confident in Iheanacho’s long-term impact
Having coached the Nigerian international at Leicester, where the striker delivered 68 goal involvements in 143 games, Rodgers believes his former player is primed to excel in Scotland.
“He’s only going to get better because I know the player. I know how good he can be and how good he was for me,” Rodgers explained.
“When he came in, because of the timing of his arrival and everything that surrounded our window, maybe it wasn’t so accepting for him to be in, but there’s absolutely no doubt that of all the players that were available, he was the standout. I know his talent, and I know how big a player he can be. Now he’s starting to settle into the squad, and he’ll show that during his time here.”
Rodgers also stressed the importance of trust and continuity for strikers, recalling how Iheanacho often played behind Jamie Vardy at Leicester.
“It’s like with any player – you need to feel the trust of the coach, you need to feel part of an environment and really inclusive of everyone. Then your confidence grows from that. Strikers are confidence players, and I can see that growing with him.”
The manager added that Iheanacho’s impressive fitness is already setting him apart in the squad.
“He’s come back physically in a really good place – his body fat is one of the lowest in our squad, so he’s in a really good way. It’s just catching up on game time, and he can be a big asset for us.”
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