Celtic’s search for a striker this summer was well-documented.
Kyogo Furuhashi departed the club for Rennes in January, and despite Jota coming the other way as a wide reinforcement, no direct striker replacement was forthcoming.
As such, it was a key position for Brendan Rodgers this summer. David Strelec, Louis Munteanu and Jamie Vardy were among the names mentioned.
Shin Yamada was brought in and described as a ‘club signing’ by Rodgers. Adam Idah was sold out of nowhere, and the club failed in their pursuit to sign Kasper Dolberg to replace him.
This left the Hoops with Kelechi Iheanacho. And despite doubt and anger at his signing, he has got off to a pretty solid start – could he be in for a special season?
Andy Walker on Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic player of the year suggestion
Iheanacho has managed a goal contribution in each of his three Celtic appearances, scoring off the bench twice.
Despite initial doubts over his fitness, his impact on matches has been hugely impressive.
And for one caller on the Go Radio Football Show, he is capable of going on a goalscoring run and claiming the Hoops’ player of the season award.
Andy Walker was more cautious, but didn’t rule it out, noting that the Nigerian has the capability to score bags of goals.
Walker said: “I think there’s a sharpness there, there’s a killer instinct that he showed the other night. And if he plays enough games, I think he could score heavily for Celtic.
“But he needs to keep his fitness, he needs to keep that sharpness. You wish that for every player that wants to make their mark.
“I’m not prepared to guess who might be the player of the season, we’re only five games into it. In all honesty, he wasn’t on his [Rodgers] radar. He was a free transfer.
“Celtic were looking at strikers who were ahead of Iheanacho in the queue. They didn’t get them in, and they turned to someone who was free and available.
“But that’s not to say that this guy can’t come in and be a sensation. He might come in and score very heavily, he might be the player of the season. But let’s just wait and see.”
What other Celtic players have won player of the year under Brendan Rodgers?
Rodgers has seen one of his new signings claim player of the year in his debut season before – Scott Sinclair managed it in his and Rodgers’ first Celtic campaign in 2016-17.
Scott Brown claimed it the following year, completing his return to form under Rodgers after doubts about his future under Ronny Deila.
Callum McGregor won it in 2018-19, despite James Forrest winning the vote among the Scottish PFA.
Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda have been the two award winners so far in Rodgers’ second spell in Glasgow.
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