Kelechi Iheanacho has provided Martin O’Neill with an interesting headache following Celtic’s late win over Dundee on Sunday.
During O’Neill’s two spells in charge of Celtic, he has been searching far and wide for a striker to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Unfortunately, nobody has been able to answer his calls, with the majority lacking the skill set to lead the line for the champions of Scotland.
The issue with Iheanacho isn’t his quality, but his lack of fitness; that’s why 67 Hail Hail previously called for him to never be selected again.
To be in that situation, for a club the size of Celtic, isn’t acceptable, but the fact of the matter is, it’s where the Hoops are, and he is going to be used from now until the end of the campaign.
But perhaps the answers lie with how Iheanacho was used at Dens Park.
- READ MORE: Nigerian media rave about Celtic ‘difference-maker’ Kelechi Iheanacho after Dundee winner
Your first thought when you see the fixtures…
How many points will we pick up?
Kelechi Iheanacho needs to be used from the bench as Celtic push for the title
Celtic’s post-split fixtures are out, and it’s none other than a last-day showdown against Premiership leaders, Hearts at Parkhead.
Added to that, there is a Scottish Cup semi-final to deal with, and a possible final trip, so still a lot of games to go.
But if O’Neill wants to extract the absolute maximum out of his squad, then Iheanacho needs to be used from the bench.
He clearly doesn’t have 90 minutes under his belt, so rather than watch him start and fade away as the clock ticks the hour mark, why not use him when he can cause the most damage? The final half hour of games.
| Iheanacho’s games at Celtic | Starts | 90 minutes played | Goals from the bench |
| 16 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
Yes, Tomas Cvancara divides opinion, but at least he is fit and ready to start, no matter what.
If Celtic need a goal, as they did against Dundee, then who would you rather come off the bench, Cvancara or Iheanacho?
Yes, some would argue that you start the Nigeria international and he can kill the game off in the first half, but how many times have Celtic done that this season? Or even the player himself? He’s gone off more times than he has scored as a starter!
Time and time again, Celtic have produced the late, late show. Perhaps that’s the way to win the title, so just weaponise Iheanacho in that manner and hope for the best.
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