Celtic legend Peter Grant has warned new signing Kelechi Iheanacho that he will have little time to prove himself at Parkhead.
The Nigerian forward joined the Scottish champions on a free transfer after his contract was terminated at Sevilla, signing a one-year deal with an option for a further season.
Grant, who starred for Celtic in the 1980s and 1990s, told Go Radio:
“The only question mark we have just now is because we haven’t seen him play recently.
At 28, his peak years should be there, but we don’t know where he is because we haven’t seen him play.
He will get judged in 10 minutes and that is the way football is in Glasgow.
If he is fit, there is absolutely no doubt he is a talented boy. But the boy won’t get time to break himself in.”
Grant, who made 483 appearances for Celtic between 1984 and 1997 and captained the side to victory in the inaugural Scottish Youth Cup in 1983–84, knows all about the demands of the Glasgow club.
Grant was manager of Norwich City for a year, and also briefly the caretaker manager of Fulham. Photo Credit: Getty Images
His loyalty to Celtic was recognised with a testimonial against Bayern Munich in 1997.
Iheanacho, has spoken of his excitement at reuniting with Brendan Rodgers, under whom he enjoyed the most prolific campaign of his career at Leicester City.
Speaking to Celtic TV, the striker said:
“I’m really happy to be working with Brendan again. He’s a great man and a great coach with a good personality, and I’m happy to be playing under him again. The gaffer knows me and he knows what I can offer, so I just can’t wait to get going.”
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The Super Eagles striker added that he is looking forward to reconnecting with former Leicester teammate Kasper Schmeichel, who also joined Celtic this summer.
“When I was at Leicester, I used to sit next to Kasper in the changing room, so I’ll be happy to see him again,” he said.
Iheanacho’s best season came in 2020/21 when he scored 19 goals across all competitions, including 12 in the Premier League, as Leicester lifted the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Iheanacho scored 18 goals in 25 FA Cup matches. Photo Credit: Getty Images
He previously won the League Cup with Manchester City in 2016 before moving to Leicester for £25m, going on to score 55 goals in more than 200 appearances.
His time in Spain proved less successful, with just three goals for Sevilla before being loaned to Middlesbrough in the Championship last season.
Iheanacho has 42 goals in 194 Premier league matches and 86 goals in 322 in his club career appearances
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The Nigerian has been included in Celtic’s Europa League squad and is expected to make his debut against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on 14 September.
