Celtic head coach Martin O’Neill has offered an injury update on Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho, confirming that the Nigerian forward has returned to training with the first team after a hamstring injury but is not yet ready for competitive action.
Iheanacho was sidelined since late December after sustaining a hamstring problem in Celtic’s Premier Sports Cup final defeat to St Mirren, forcing him out of several matches in domestic and European competition. O’Neill revealed that the 29 year old took part in training on Friday, marking his second day in team sessions, but is still some way from being match-fit.
O’Neill said that while Iheanacho did “fine” in training, the upcoming Scottish Premiership clash a high-profile trip to face Hearts comes too soon for him to start. For now, the striker has not travelled with the squad, and O’Neill stressed that managing his return carefully remains the priority as Celtic balance domestic and European demands.
EDITORIAL
Injuries are the unseen arbiters of footballing fortunes the invisible narratives that shift momentum and reshape a club’s ambitions. Kelechi Iheanacho’s gradual return to training under Martin O’Neill is a quiet but significant subplot in Celtic’s season, emblematic of the careful calibration required when reintegrating a forward whose presence could tilt tight Scottish Premiership fixtures.
Iheanacho’s spell on the sidelines has been a story of patience as much as physical recovery. A hamstring injury sustained in late December robbed him of crucial minutes, compounding Celtic’s broader quest for squad stability in a season of high expectations and intense competition. That he is now back in training albeit not yet ready to start speaks to the meticulous approach demanded at this level, where a premature comeback can often yield more setbacks than solutions.
Yet the nuance here is as important as the news itself. For Celtic, this is not simply about a player shaking off injury it is about timing, rhythm and tactical balance. Celtic’s campaign stretches across league, cup and European matches each with distinct demands. To reintroduce Iheanacho too soon would risk not just his fitness but the cohesion O’Neill seeks to cultivate.
In football’s broader arc, returning from injury is less a moment than a process a blend of physical readiness, confidence and strategic fit. In this careful choreography, the presence of Iheanacho back on the training ground offers a boost not just to Celtic’s attacking options, but to a narrative that promises resurgence only when preparation meets opportunity.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Iheanacho has been sidelined since late December with a hamstring injury suffered in Celtic’s Premier Sports Cup final loss to St Mirren.
- He has rejoined full training sessions with the first team, marking a notable step towards match fitness.
- O’Neill confirmed the striker did “fine” in training, though he’s considered not ready to start immediately.
- Iheanacho did not travel with Celtic’s squad for their recent European fixture, underscoring the cautious approach to his recovery.
- His fitness return comes at a key moment for Celtic, who face a tough run of domestic and European fixtures where his involvement could be crucial — once fully ready.
