Johnny Kenny earns last-minute Ireland call-up with outstanding Celtic form

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It’s been some fortnight for Celtic’s Johnny Kenny.

With Brendan Rodgers signing three strikers this summer, it wasn’t even clear if Kenny would be at the club at the end of the transfer window.

But since the interim arrival of Martin O’Neill, Kenny’s Celtic career has completely taken off with four goals in four games.

A first-half brace against Falkirk followed by a great header in the semi-final win against Rangers marked a statement week for Kenny, before he backed that up with another opener against Kilmarnock.

His current form puts doubt over whether Kelechi Iheanacho can replace him on return from injury, and it has now been rewarded at international level.

Johnny Kenny called up by Ireland after Evan Ferguson injury

Ireland aren’t short on strikers at the minute – Celtic fans are familiar with Adam Idah, a mainstay in the national team.

23-year-old striker Troy Parrott has been on fire since signing for AZ Alkmaar, and also has a place nailed down.

READ MORE: Martin O’Neill’s brutal Jahmai Simpson-Pusey verdict gets plenty of laughs after Celtic vs Kilmarnock

But Roma striker Evan Ferguson has been struggling for goals this season since joining on loan from Brighton, and has been ruled out of Ireland’s home clash with Portugal.

Ferguson has scored three goals for Ireland in this qualification campaign, maintaining his position as the side’s main striker.

But Kenny’s call-up is a show of faith from under-pressure manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who also handed him a call-up in September.

Kenny didn’t get on the pitch in those two games, remaining uncapped. Given how his form has improved since then, that could be different on this occasion.

Ireland face an uphill task to qualify for the play-offs from their group. Even if they beat Hungary in Budapest, it will still be out of their hands if they fail to beat Portugal in Dublin.

Liam Scales has also been included in the squad, alongside Hoops academy graduate Mikey Johnston.

Celtic players on international duty in Europe

Anthony Ralston and Kieran Tierney are looking to be part of the Scotland squad which is the first to qualify for the World Cup since 1998.

Kasper Schmeichel’s Denmark will be in their way – it promises to be a dramatic race to qualify from Group C.

It’s been a disastrous campaign for Benjamin Nygren and Sweden – but the appointment of Graham Potter will be a huge boost ahead of their Nations League play-offs.

Viljami Sinisalo was handed a rare competitive appearance for Finland in the last international break – though they are all but guaranteed to exit the qualifiers this week.