Celtic coach Rodgers says Kelechi Iheanacho goal ‘will be very important for him’

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed support for Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho after he scored the decisive goal to help the team secure a 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday.

Iheanacho was handed his debut, replacing Daizen Maeda with only 20 minutes left on the clock, with the Hoops leading 1-0. However, 10 minutes later, Kilmarnock levelled the game from a corner-kick, with David Watson powering a header beyond Kasper Schmeichel.

Just when it looked like the game was heading for a draw, Celtic were awarded a penalty for handball following a VAR check. Iheanacho stepped up to take the spot-kick and fired it high in to the net with the last kick of the game, giving the Hoops a 2-1 win and maintaining their unbeaten start to the Premiership season.

‘I’m delighted for Kels’

“At 1-0 it can always be in the balance, no matter how much dominance you have and we got punished from a corner and then they had a wee bit of momentum then with not so long to go,” Rodgers told Celtic website.

“But we stuck at it, we defended the box when he had to, we were really strong and had that Celtic spirit, which was to keep going right to the very end, and that gives us the little bit of chaos which creates the penalty.

“And I’m delighted for Kels (Kelechi Iheanacho) because he’s a player who really feeds off confidence and love of coaches and supporters, and that goal will be very important for him.”

Iheanacho will hope to get a starting role when they face Partick Thistle F.C. in a Scottish League Cup quarterfinal clash on Sunday.

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