There are still plenty of Celtic supporters who remain unconvinced by Kelechi Iheanacho, but Alan McInally has made a compelling case for why the striker deserves another chance.
The Nigerian’s first season in Glasgow was far from perfect, yet his form during the closing weeks of the campaign showed exactly why Celtic would be taking a risk if they decided to move on from him now.
Should Celtic hand Kelechi Iheanacho a new contract?
McInally’s Celtic argument for Iheanacho makes perfect sense
Speaking to the Daily Record, McInally believes Celtic should focus on what Iheanacho showed at the end of the season rather than judging him solely on earlier struggles.
He said: “I would keep him. If he can perform the way he did in the last six games over the course of the season then he’s obviously worth keeping.
“That’s the big question though. It’s about keeping him fit.
“I don’t know if he’s enjoying Glasgow too much – maybe Martin should put a tag on him!
“Joking aside, it would be interesting to see how he responds to a full pre-season.
“He clearly enjoys playing for Celtic. You can see that. And why wouldn’t he, playing in front of 60,000 every other week and competing for trophies?
“It’s up to him to have the discipline and the attitude to play week in, week out.
“You could see how Martin managed to get the best out of Iheanacho in the last part of the season so he could do so again.
“The thing is, if he does go, he would need to be replaced. You look at his quality and his ability in front of goal, that doesn’t come easily.
“Some players need a kick and others need a hug – although most want a hug these days – but if Martin feels he can get him going again then he’s definitely worth keeping.”
It is difficult to argue with that assessment. McInally is not claiming Iheanacho has already proved himself over a full season. He is simply pointing out that Celtic finally saw signs of the player they hoped they had signed.
Celtic have already seen enough to give Iheanacho another chance
McInally’s strongest point may have been his simplest one. If Iheanacho leaves, Celtic still need another striker.
One of the biggest mistakes clubs can make is abandoning a player just as things begin to click.
Iheanacho’s strongest performances arrived during the run-in, when Celtic were pushing towards the Premiership title.
His improvement was noticeable and it suggested there may be far more to come if he can stay fit and benefit from a full pre-season.
McInally’s other point is equally important. If Celtic decide to let Iheanacho go, they immediately create another problem. Finding a striker with proven quality, experience and finishing ability is rarely straightforward.
That does not mean Celtic should keep him at all costs. It does mean they should think very carefully before walking away from a player who finally looked capable of making a meaningful contribution.
Celtic finally saw signs of the player they thought they were signing. That alone should make them think twice before letting Iheanacho walk away this summer.
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