Martin O’Neill did not shy away from speaking about Kelechi Iheanacho after the striker made the difference at Hampden. O’Neill has trusted him off the bench in recent weeks, and it worked again here.
O’Neill watched the team lose their grip late in the game, then saw Iheanacho help pull it back. The Irishman now has a call to make with a run of games coming up.
The striker came on when the match was level and space had started to open. That is where he looks at ease. He stays high, finds pockets in the box, and finishes chances early. Both goals came that way, with St Mirren stretched and chasing.
O’Neill has managed him carefully up to this point. Injuries earlier in the season limited his time, and he has rarely been used from the start for long spells. Instead, he has been introduced when defenders begin to tire and the shape of the game loosens.
That approach fits how Celtic have played in these matches. When the tempo lifts and the ball goes forward quicker, Iheanacho finds chances. From the start, games can be tighter, with less room and more focus on bringing others into play.
O’Neill said: (TCW), “I couldn’t disagree with that, yes. Obviously he’s had the few injury problems.
“I think I said to you that sometimes it he felt as if he started the games, he might not see the game through.
“We’ve got a couple like that at the moment. But yes, today his goals have been big for us, really big.
“He says he is completely fit, and I’m not completely sure! But he was brilliant. He took the goals magnificently. You can see why he’s had a career.”
O’Neill’s comments leave the door open without confirming anything. Fitness still shapes the thinking. If Iheanacho cannot go the distance, that affects how he is used.
There is also the wider picture. Celtic have forwards who cover more ground early on, especially when pressing high. That work often sets the tone before changes are made later.
For Iheanacho, the role is clear for now. He comes on and looks to finish games. If he keeps doing this, the pressure to start him will keep building.
