Kelechi Iheanacho’s stop-start season at Celtic took another painful turn on Sunday as the Nigerian forward limped out of the Premier Sports Cup final defeat to St Mirren with a fresh hamstring problem.
Iheanacho, 29, had been handed his first start since recovering from an earlier muscle injury, but his return to the starting line-up ended abruptly after just 35 minutes at Hampden Park. Chasing a forward pass near the touchline, the Nigerian international suddenly pulled up and clutched the back of his leg, instantly alarming the Celtic bench.
Although he tried briefly to continue, the striker was withdrawn as a precaution and replaced by Johnny Kenny, with fears growing that he could now face another spell on the sidelines.
The setback is a significant blow for head coach Wilfried Nancy, who had only recently welcomed Iheanacho back into contention. The forward had made his return from injury as a substitute in Celtic’s Europa League defeat to Roma in midweek, his first appearance in almost two months after suffering a hamstring injury against Sturm Graz in October.
Sunday’s incident raises concerns of another lengthy absence for Iheanacho, who has already missed six league matches, the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers and a Europa League tie against Midtjylland this season.
Before being forced off, Iheanacho had looked lively and sharp, coming close to opening the scoring with a powerful header that drew a strong save from St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George. It was a brief glimpse of the quality Celtic hoped he would bring after joining the club as a free agent following his departure from Sevilla.
So far, injuries have overshadowed his time in Glasgow. Since arriving in the summer, shortly after the transfer window closed, Iheanacho has made nine appearances and scored three goals; however, consistent fitness has proved elusive.
Celtic’s wider injury problems continue to mount, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston currently sidelined, while Daizen Maeda and Auston Trusty have also spent time out. Iheanacho’s latest issue further stretches a squad already under pressure during a demanding run of fixtures.
On the pitch, the final itself added to a difficult week for Nancy and his players. Celtic fell behind inside two minutes to a Marcus Fraser header before Reo Hatate pulled them level. However, St Mirren took control after the break, with John Ayunga scoring twice to seal a memorable cup triumph.
