As Celtic navigate the absolute pressure cooker of these post-split fixtures, Kelechi Iheanacho might just emerge as a difference maker for Martin O’Neill’s side.
Since the start of the season, Celtic have been searching for that goalscorer, without anyone taking the bull by the horns.
In the meantime, Premiership leaders Hearts have enjoyed Lawrence Shankland, and PFA Player of the Year, Claudio Braga, scoring for fun at Tynecastle, as John Robertson feels those two could be the difference in this epic title race in Scotland.
But when Robertson suggested that neither Celtic nor Rangers has a ‘genuine centre forward’ amongst their ranks, Chris Sutton wanted to remind the Hearts legend about Iheanacho.
Robertson: “Hearts have got two outstanding finishers. You look at Celtic, and they still don’t have a genuine centre forward.”
Sutton: “Well, they do, but they have to bring him on for 15 minutes.”
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This is the problem with Iheanacho, and why he has been a frustrating signing for Celtic.
This isn’t about quality, but simply about being able to stay fit and having the capacity to play 90 minutes of football.
Sutton was right on Sky Sports Football to bring his name up when Robertson questioned the striker’s credentials in Glasgow, and let’s be honest, he is spot on.
Iheanacho’s career has proven that he’s better than what those at Hearts can put on the table, but football isn’t played on paper.
Robertson: “It’s going to come down to, one of the simplest things, I am saying the simplest thing in the world. It’s what Celtic and Rangers are lacking; they haven’t got a finisher like Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga.
“Hearts have got two outstanding finishers. You look at Celtic, and they still don’t have a genuine centre forward.”
Sutton: “Well, they do, but they have to bring him on for 15 minutes.”
Robertson: “That’s all he can play.”
Kelechi Iheanacho, Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga’s numbers this season
Few will argue against Braga rightfully claiming the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award, but had Shankland not got injured, then the Scotland international probably would have won the prize instead.
Regardless, with both of those players fully fit and firing on all cylinders, they pose a massive threat to Celtic’s title charge.
Either way, Iheanacho will need to pull a miracle from his days at Manchester City to get Celtic over the line here.
- Iheanacho’s Premiership games: 10
- Starts: 4
- Minutes per game: 42
- Goals: 4
- Minutes per goal: 105
- Goal conversion: 21%
- Shankland’s Premiership games: 26
- Starts: 25
- Minutes per game: 86
- Goals: 14
- Minutes per goal: 159
- Goal conversion: 18%
- Braga’s Premiership games: 35
- Starts: 32
- Minutes per game: 78
- Goals: 14
- Minutes per goal: 195
- Goal conversion: 14%
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