Super Eagles forward resumes full training after hamstring setback ahead Europa League test approaches.
Kelechi Iheanacho walked back onto the Lennoxtown training pitch on Wednesday morning with the kind of quiet determination that has defined much of his career. The November chill hung in the Scottish air, yet for Celtic fans and Nigerian football followers across the world.
Just a few weeks ago, Iheanacho limped off during Celtic’s Europa League win over Sturm Graz, clutching his hamstring. The sort of injury that always brings a cloud of uncertainty. The club initially feared a longer layoff, but each day since then has been a steady march toward recovery. And now, ahead of Celtic’s high-stakes Europa League meeting with Feyenoord, the 29-year-old has stepped back into full-squad training.
Photos released from the club’s session showed Iheanacho smiling, stretching, sprinting and crucially, training with the full group. It was the first time he had been photographed participating since October, and it immediately lifted expectations that he could make the matchday squad traveling to Rotterdam.
For Celtic’s interim manager Martin O’Neill, the timing couldn’t be better.
The Hoops have battled an inconsistent European run, and Iheanacho’s blend of strength, hold-up play and calm finishing had started to shine before injury interrupted his rhythm. Four goal contributions in his first eight appearances had given fans a glimpse of what he might become under the club’s evolving system.
But beyond Scotland, his return carries another layer of anticipation; especially in Nigeria, where Iheanacho remains one of the diaspora’s most recognizable forwards. Many Nigerians still view him as a player with something meaningful to offer the national team, particularly with Africa’s World Cup qualifiers entering a decisive window in 2025. Every minute he plays in Celtic green doubles as a rehearsal for the green-white-green of the Super Eagles.
As he completed rondos, finishing drills and short tactical phases, it became clear that Iheanacho wasn’t just easing himself back. He looked eager as if aware that this return could redefine his season. With Celtic’s attacking options stretched thin, his presence could be the difference between another European setback and a revival of continental ambition.
Whether he ultimately features against Feyenoord will depend on a late fitness assessment, but the trajectory is promising. His name is once again penciled into O’Neill’s plans. His boots, dormant for weeks, are tied again. And in Scotland’s cold November breeze, Kelechi Iheanacho looks ready — ready for Feyenoord, ready for Celtic, and ready for another chapter in a career that refuses to dim.
Stay with Hot Sports Scoops for exclusive Nigerian-focused sports coverage — home and abroad.