JOE HART’S convinced Kelechi Iheancho can silence the sceptics and deliver for Celtic IF he really wants it.
The desperate Hoops swooped for the 28-year-old on a free transfer the day after the transfer window closed following Sevilla’s decision to rip up the final year of his deal.
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Parkhead chiefs were under severe pressure to find a replacement for Adam Idah, sold to Swansea City for £6 million, after being snubbed late on with an attempted £8.5 million move for Kasper Dolberg and a loan bid for David Datro Fofana.
Scrambling around, they turned to previous target Iheanacho and got him signed in time to also register the Nigeria international for their Europa League squad.
Ex-Hoops’ Treble-winning No1 Hart – back in Paradise for the Legends game against Manchester United to help boost the Celtic FC Foundation – played with him at Manchester City a decade ago.
Iheanacho also won the FA Cup with Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City but over the last year, including a loan spell at Middlesbrough, has lost his way.
TV pundit Hart – who made an emotional exit from the Hoops in 2024 – said: “Kelechi came in early and he came in from nowhere and he was pushed with the first team.
“I wasn’t sure when he first trained with us – but then his ability just shone through.
“He’s got a really cool, calm head.
“He’s got an interesting personality and humour that really grew on us.
“If he can get a rhythm – that he’s lacked the last couple of years – then he’s a really dangerous, top end player.
“He’s so calm when finishing. His left foot is very hard to read, he plants his right foot, he can open up or reverse.
“Brendan knows how to get the best out of him. If he can find his rhythm and fitness Celtic could have a really top striker.
“Kelechi will be given the support.
“If the boys create like we know they can, he’ll be an asset to the club.
“He’s coming into a winning dressing room, with a winning mentality. A club that expects.
“You can’t really prepare anyone for that. I’m not saying it will shock him.
“But there’s no point in any words from me. He needs to feel it to understand it.
“He’ll have a great leader in the dressing room in terms of Callum McGregor. He’s obviously got Brendan, John Kennedy and the coaching staff.
“You can be welcomed when you go through the dressing room door, but it’s about, how much do you want it?
“How much do you want to make this place your home?
“Because if he really wants it, he’s got the quality and can bring goals to this club.
“There’s a player in him.”
Celtic had two proper strikers for this fund-raiser – Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink reunited, 17-years after they were title-winning team-mates.
Raising funds for the Paradise Pit Stop and there was a 20,000-plus gate to see some great names from the past of each club.
The starting line-ups were packed with top heroes of historic glory days with Tom Boyd, Tosh McKinlay and Brian McClair – an idol of both clubs – bossing the Celts..
Among those also starting for the Hoops were Mikael Lustig, captain Charlie Mulgrew, Joe Ledley, Tom Rogic, Vennegoor of Hesselink and McDonald.
United – led by Bryan Robson – had Mikael Silvestre, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Nani, Dimitar Berbatov and Louis Saha in their opening team.
There was also a certain Tyler Blackett in their XI…on loan at Celtic in the 2015-16 campaign but a disappointing spell with only three appearances.
Hoops fan Fletcher blasted United ahead after 19 minutes.
Berbatov then made it 2-0 soon after, another emphatic shot which gave Hart no chance.
The Celtic Legends had their first half moments; Ledley, McDonald, Mulgrew and Lustig all going close.
As expected with both squads, there were a flurry of subs – Holy Goalie Artur Boruc given a rousing reception on his latest return to Paradise.
But also enthusiastically cheered were Andy Hinkel, Stiliyan Petrov, Stefan Johansen and Shaun Maloney and Georgios Samaras.
Watching from the directors box was bleach-blond Jota, taking time out from his pain-staking rehab following his cruciate ligament injury suffered at the end of last season and which will keep him out until next year.
McDonald reduced the deficit.
And the Celts’ old Bhoys levelled in the closing stages with Maloney stroking home from a Samaras knock-down.
Neither side could muster a game-clincher and we went to a shoot-out.
Hart, just as he did in the 2024 Scottish Cup semi-final final, missed a penalty but he also saved from Darren Gibson.
Boruc, meanwhile, saved from Blackett.
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Naylor netted the decisive kick for a 4-3 triumph while also on the mark for the Hoops were Simon Donnelly, Mulgrew and McDonald.
Hart added: “It was great to be back. All what happened is in the past but it will stay with me forever.”
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