Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher has admitted he would love to bring Johnny Kenny back to the club following the striker’s successful loan spell last season.
Kenny proved an inspired January signing as Bolton secured promotion to the Championship, scoring six goals and providing important assists during the second half of the campaign.
The Irish forward’s season was cruelly cut short by injury, ruling him out of the promotion play-offs, but his contribution had already helped lay the foundations for Bolton’s successful campaign.
His future at Celtic remains uncertain.
The 23-year-old was notably left off the club’s squad-number list for the 2026/27 season, a move that has only fuelled speculation that another departure could be on the cards before the transfer window closes.
Schumacher has made no secret of his admiration for the striker and admits he would jump at the chance to work with him again.
Speaking to the Bolton News, he said:
“Who knows?
“I’ve spoken openly and not hid the fact that I thought Johnny did a great job for us last season.
“He was a real bonus for us, a plus when we signed him in January.
“He was a player that I tried to sign last summer, didn’t manage to happen because Celtic needed him to stay in their squad.
“We managed to get him in January, he came in, made a huge impact, scored some really important goals for us, got some assists and he’s a player who again I’ve said I would love to work with again because he was a brilliant character.
“Now whether we can make that happen again, I’m not sure.
“I don’t know whether we can financially afford it.
“I don’t know whether he’s going to be available from Celtic in whatever department, whether that be on loan or whether that be on a permanent.
“We’re not sure but as I say he’s a player I would love to work with again.”
Schumacher’s comments underline just how highly Kenny is regarded at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
However, whether a reunion is realistic remains to be seen.
Celtic’s striking options have changed significantly this summer with the arrivals of Camilo Duran and club-record signing Kasper Høgh, while Callum Osmand also continues to push for first-team opportunities.
That leaves Kenny facing stiff competition if he is to force his way into Martin O’Neill’s plans.
Another loan move could offer regular Championship football and continue his development, while a permanent transfer cannot be ruled out if the right offer arrives.
For now, though, Schumacher can only wait.
The Bolton boss has made his feelings perfectly clear. The remaining question is whether Celtic decide Kenny’s future lies in Glasgow or elsewhere.
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