Callum McGregor has praised new signing Kelechi Iheanacho and backed him to make a big impact at Celtic this season.
The captain spoke about the Nigerian forward’s early influence since joining the club on a free transfer, highlighting both his quality and his character.
Iheanacho arrived in Glasgow at the start of September and has already found the net in big moments, including a late winner against Kilmarnock and a strike in the Europa League. For McGregor, the signs were there from the very first training session that Celtic had brought in a player of genuine pedigree.
The midfielder pointed to Iheanacho’s background at top clubs such as Leicester and Manchester City, and stressed that his experience is already rubbing off on the group. While the striker is still working back towards full sharpness, McGregor believes his attitude has been spot on.
McGregor explained why Iheanacho’s arrival has been a lift for the whole squad and why he sees the deal as clever business from the club.
He said: (TCW), “Since Kelechi’s come in, he’s obviously scored a couple of goals already — but you could see it in training.
“I think the first time I saw him, you know, you can just tell by the way someone hits the ball — you think, ‘Right, he can play.’ He’s got a big pedigree. He’s played at big clubs and obviously played under the manager at Leicester as well. And you can see he’s a good player.
“The reason we’ve got him is probably because he’s lacking a bit of game time and just needs to get up to speed. The good thing is, he’s come in and his attitude’s been amazing. He’s working hard, he’s part of the group already — it feels like he’s been here for a while — and he wants to do well. So, it’s brilliant energy for the group to feed off.
“Everything happens for a reason. It’s one of these things. It’s an amazing football club, and there are always special narratives within that. There are sliding-door moments, and we have to make the most of them. We’ve got a really top player in the building. He looks hungry, so we just need to keep on him and hopefully get the best out of him.
“Good business comes in many forms. You don’t always need to pay big money for good players — it’s about getting them at the right time and getting them hungry. There are so many factors involved when you sign players. You need them at the right moment.
“It certainly looks like a good piece of business, and we just need to keep backing it up and proving it on the pitch.”
McGregor’s comments show just how quickly Iheanacho has earned respect inside the dressing room. He’s settled in well and already given Celtic another option in attack at a time when the team needs goals from all over the pitch.
The captain also pointed out how important timing can be in transfers. Even though Iheanacho came in as a free agent, McGregor feels his hunger and experience could turn him into one of the smartest signings Celtic have made.
Brendan Rodgers will now focus on building up his fitness so he can play a bigger part in the weeks ahead. With Celtic fighting in several competitions, having another proven forward could make a real difference.
For now, Iheanacho has made the right impression, and with McGregor and the rest of the squad backing him, he has a real chance to become an important player for this Celtic team.
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