JOHNNY KENNY will never forget Brendan Rodgers.
Now Celtic’s new striker-for-fame plans to make sure Martin O’Neill always thinks of him for the starting line-up – with Rangers next up in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
Kenny certainly made the best possible impact for the legendary returning boss – brilliantly pouncing twice in the 4-0 humbling of Falkirk.
But the 22-year-old was keen to pay tribute to the departed Rodgers with the dust still settling after the explosive events of late Monday night – the Northern Irishman’s stunning exit quickly followed by an explosive character filleting from major shareholder Dermot Desmond.
Kenny – signed by Ange Postecoglou from Sligo Rovers in January, 2022 but quickly loaned out – was saddened by Rodgers’ sudden resignation just a few months after being given a contract extension until 2029.
The Republic of Ireland under-21 ace – four starts for the Hoops, four goals – said: “Tuesday was obviously a hectic day.
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“It was disappointing. Since I’ve been here, it’s always been Brendan.
“It was tough. It’s the first time I’ve lost a manager in my career, so it was strange around the training ground.
“We knew we had to come together and get a good result.
“Brendan changed my life and changed my career – I’ll be forever grateful for that.
“But obviously he’s gone now and we need to battle on.”
Kenny was born just a few weeks after O’Neill’s Celtic had suffered 2003 UEFA Cup final heartache to Porto.
There’s a 51-year age gap between him and the man who also once managed his country’s national team, leading them to the Euros in 2016.
But while just a babe as O’Neill enjoyed five glory-filled years at Parkhead between 2000-05, Kenny’s still clear as to the history of Celtic’s iconic interim boss.
He said: “I knew he was very successful here, but that’s about it.
“I would have been very young when he was in charge of the club before.
“He obviously managed Ireland to some big moments so while I don’t know a lot about him, I still know a fair bit.
“He’s so well respected and it’s fully deserved.
“He’s done so much for this football club and hopefully he can bring that to us in the next few games and forever long he’s here.
“Every player is desperate to be on the team sheet every week and it’s no different for me.
“I just need to keep my head down and keep working hard and hopefully delivering on the pitch.
“I don’t think there’s a hurry. I needed to stay patient and learn every day.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do, staying calm on the pitch and delivering performances.
“It’s a massive game on Sunday and it would be a marker put down by us to get into another cup final.
“Results haven’t been great recently but we want to win games, that’s what we are here to do.
“At Celtic there is always pressure no matter who the manager is or what the style of play might be.
“We just need to answer that pressure, put in big performances and get results.
“The manager just said to go out and be free against Falkirk – but that we needed to win, simple as that.
“We have leaders in the group, like Callum McGregor, Kasper Schmeichel and James Forrest.
“But we all need to stick together. We have massive games we need to go and win – Wednesday was a good start.
“Everyone was disappointed and the atmosphere was strange on Tuesday, but we knew it was all about going on and winning on Wednesday.
“It was brilliant for me.
“It’s obviously great to get two goals in any game. I felt like it was coming in my last performance, but I just didn’t manage to hit the net.
“But thankfully it did against Falkirk.
“It felt brilliant. We needed that result. The fans really got behind us.”
Kenny would love to be the main man against a Rangers side beginning to generate momentum under new gaffer Danny Rohl – confident of his ability to lead the Hoops line in possibly the biggest match yet of his fledgling career.
He said: “Definitely. I’d like to think so.
“It was key for me to get the goals against Falkirk and hopefully it can spur me on.
“It’s a massive boost for me.
“You don’t want to go on not scoring. Hopefully I can take this in to Sunday.
“It would be one of the biggest games of my career to start. A Glasgow derby against Rangers in a semi-final of a cup.
“It’s probably the biggest fixture in world football and it can create heroes.
“A few years ago Adam Idah came in and scored a big goal against them in the Scottish Cup Final.
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“Hopefully I can replicate something like that.
“People will say we haven’t been great in the last few weeks and this can be a statement victory come Sunday.”
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