Martin O’Neill is preparing to unleash Kelechi Iheanacho in Celtic’s remaining six defining games in the pursuit of a remarkable league and Cup double in a turbulent campaign.
The experienced striker came to the champions’ rescue with a superb extra-time double in the edgy 6-2 victory over Premier Sports League Cup conquerors St Mirren in a tension-laden Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.
Pulled back to 2-2 in regulation time when two strikes from Mikael Mandron wiped up the 2-0 half-time lead courtesy of goals from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston, Iheanacho, an 83rd minute replacement for Yang Hyun-jun, stepped up to lead the team to a May 23 grand finale against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline.
He snapped in a header for the third goal from a cross by James Forrest and added the fifth with a deft left-foot finish. Luke McCowan netted in between those efforts and Benjamin Nygren claimed No.6 to complete a whirlwind four-goals-in-six-minutes scoring spree.
Iheanacho has been beset by injury problems sinc arriving as a free agent from Sevilla in September and had claimed only four goals in 16 appearances until Sunday.
Asked if the 29-year-old Nigerian international had done enough to show he should be in at the kick-off, O’Neill, speaking to the Daily Mail, answered: “I couldn’t disagree with that.
“Obviously, he’s had the few injury problems. I think I said that sometimes if you felt as if he started the games, he might not see the game through.
“We’ve got a couple like that at the moment.
“On this occasion, his goals have been big for us. Really big. He says he is completely fit. And I’m not completely sure, but he was brilliant for us.
“He took the goals magnificently. You can see why he’s had a career.”
Now all eyes are on O’Neill’s starting line-up for the 5.30pm league encounter with Falkirk at Parkhead on Saturday.
