Celtic manager Martin O’Neil was full of praise for Kelechi Iheanacho after the Super Eagles striker produced yet another decisive moment off the bench to claim three vital points against Motherwell on Wednesday, Footynaija.com reports.
As has become the trend in recent weeks, Iheanacho started the game at Fir Park on the bench before coming on for the final 20 minutes with Celtic leading a keenly contested encounter 2-1 thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren.
Motherwell did well to draw the match level 15 minutes after Iheanacho’s introduction but the Nigerian striker would eventually get the last laugh as he stepped up to convert a high-pressure spot-kick after the referee penalized Sam Nicholson late in the game.
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“Iheanacho has been terrific for us with the little cameo roles that he’s done,” the Celtic boss told BBC Scotland.
“He’s had a really frustrating time this season with hamstring problems, but he has come up big for us in these weeks, absolutely big, and he was the one taking the penalty. I was delighted that he was the one who was taking it.
“Well, I have seen it back very, very briefly, it’s a handball, it looks as if it’s also an elbow to the side of the head as well. VAR have asked the referee to come over and have a look at it, and he’s [had] no hesitation in giving the penalty.”
Iheanacho’s goal was his eighth of the season across all competitions for Celtic. Interestingly, seven of those strikes have come off the bench, highlighting the Nigerian striker’s importance as an impact substitute for the 55-time Scottish champions.
