{"id":897951,"date":"2026-04-09T12:13:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/09\/ex-west-brom-midfielder-explains-why-iheanachos-fitness-is-vital-to-celtics-title-hopes\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T12:13:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:13:04","slug":"ex-west-brom-midfielder-explains-why-iheanachos-fitness-is-vital-to-celtics-title-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/09\/ex-west-brom-midfielder-explains-why-iheanachos-fitness-is-vital-to-celtics-title-hopes\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-West Brom midfielder explains why Iheanacho\u2019s fitness is vital to Celtic\u2019s title hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img width=\"750\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Soccer Ex-West Brom midfielder explains why Iheanacho\u2019s fitness is vital to Celtic\u2019s title hopes\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/ZIAp_fTZV1f_vW4UJf9Gc6xcQVc=\/750x500\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F04%2Fimago1075543238.jpg\" srcset data-sizes=\"auto\" data-expand=\"700\"><\/p>\n<p>Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates. Copyright: ImagoxDavidxYoung<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Super Eagles striker <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/tag\/kelechi-iheanacho\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kelechi Iheanacho<\/a> scored the winner for Celtic in their clash against Dundee as they closed the gap at the top of the SPFL table, Soccernet.ng reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It was only the 29-year-old&#8217;s seventh league game for the Hoops in a season that has been largely underwhelming due to his hamstring problems. Still, ex-Celtic midfielder Scott Allan believes his return is the most important thing for Martin O&#8217;Neill&#8217;s men in their title chase.<\/p>\n<p>Celtic are currently 3rd on the SPFL table, three points behind table toppers Rangers, with one game left to play before the play-offs begin.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/_K8BhIX_WPlIDs4kXXVkIrENMTg=\/1024x731\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F12%2Fimago1069755657.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Kelechi Iheanacho arrives at the stadium during the William Hill Premiership match at Easter Road\"  ><figcaption>Kelechi Iheanacho arrives at the stadium during the William Hill Premiership match at Easter Road, Edinburgh. Copyright: ImagoxFredxPalmer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Get Our Sports News First \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VagMHLcA89MZvw0Btc21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Soccer Scott Allan highlights Iheanacho&#8217;s importance to Celtic&#8217;s title challenge<\/h2>\n<p>Despite only playing under 90 minutes since the start of March, Allan believes the timing of the recovery of the ex-Manchester City striker is a big advantage for the Hoops.<\/p>\n<p>Celtic brought in Tomas Cvancara from Borussia Monchengladbach in the January transfer window, but the Czech forward has yet to score more league goals than Iheanacho despite playing more games.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe substitute&#8217;s contribution was an example of the clinical finishing that makes him the ideal first choice, Allan told the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sounds\/play\/p0nbs3pj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BBC&#8217;s Scottish Football Podcast<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2581\" height=\"1936\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/Uwxkr8ZFCupK1TvX08OGK9MXNY0=\/2581x1936\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F04%2Fimago1009383346.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Scott Allan of Hibernian \"><figcaption>Scott Allan of Hibernian. Copyright: ImagoxAlanxRennix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI think if you can keep Iheanacho fit, that&#8217;s the million-dollar question,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes you see him, then you don&#8217;t see him for another three weeks. But if he is fit, he&#8217;s the most instinctive and best finisher they have in that number nine position.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think you see that at Dundee, the times that Cvancara does have real chances and has half chances, he&#8217;s not a killer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe doesn&#8217;t look like he&#8217;s got real conviction in his finishing, and that&#8217;s why he&#8217;s had a loan deal here. He comes to Celtic, it&#8217;s a stopgap, and you&#8217;re hoping.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut for me, Iheanacho, if they can keep him fit, has to lead the line. He links the game better for Celtic as well as for me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven the goal he scores, it&#8217;s the little cute things, a cute nudge, just to put Ryan Astley off balance and then on the swivel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere&#8217;s no thought process, it&#8217;s just instinctive striker play,\u201d the 34-year-old concluded.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"731\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/RU2GyI-dAQR0tVc80e3s5NUqnY0=\/1024x731\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F10%2Fimago1067957009.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Kelechi Iheanacho holds his ankle during the William Hill Premiership match at Dens Park, Dundee\"  ><figcaption>Kelechi Iheanacho holds his ankle during the William Hill Premiership match at Dens Park, Dundee. Copyright: ImagoxFredxPalmerx<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Iheanacho has also been <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2026\/04\/ex-man-city-chelle-iheanacho-display.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tipped to make a magical return<\/a> to Eric Chelle&#8217;s squad at the end of the season by coach Martin O&#8217;Neill, but that&#8217;ll only happen if he stays fit.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img alt=\"<!-- Author Start -->Adefolahan Guerreiro<!-- Author End -->&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0f64d35abfd960f4a5a400c4bb517f7f0be6c48b655560fbdd37e59d9fc9ca58?s=80&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g&#8221;  height=&#8221;80&#8243; width=&#8221;80&#8243; loading=&#8221;lazy&#8221; decoding=&#8221;async&#8221;>\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/author\/guerreiro\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tAdefolahan Guerreiro\t\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tAdefolahan is a multilingual sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz. <\/p>\n<p>With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.<\/p>\n<p>Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.<br \/>\nHis portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.<\/p>\n<p>A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he\u2019s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2026\/04\/ex-west-brom-iheanacho-celtic-title.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Adefolahan Guerreiro<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic celebrates. Copyright: ImagoxDavidxYoung Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winner for Celtic in their clash against Dundee as they closed the gap at the top of the SPFL table, Soccernet.ng reports. It was only the 29-year-old&#8217;s seventh league game for the Hoops in a season that has been largely [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":897952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40317,89327,2005],"tags":[148735,50295],"class_list":{"0":"post-897951","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ex-west","8":"category-midfielder","9":"category-soccer","10":"tag-ex-west","11":"tag-midfielder"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/897951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=897951"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/897951\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/897952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=897951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=897951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=897951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}