Celtic striker Johnny Kenny has been rewarded for his outstanding recent form with a recall to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their Euro qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary. [Irish Examiner]
The 22-year-old comes back into the national setup after Evan Ferguson was ruled out of Thursday’s clash with Portugal due to injury. The Roma striker will remain with his club, continuing rehabilitation.
Kenny’s recall caps off a superb few weeks for the Celtic forward, who has thrived since Martin O’Neill handed him his chance in the starting XI.
He bagged a brace against Falkirk, a vital header against Rangers in the League Cup semi-final, and another well-taken finish in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.
With Kelechi Iheanacho injured and Daizen Maeda shifted out wide, Kenny has led the line with maturity and confidence, earning widespread praise for his movement, pressing and clinical finishing.
He’ll now link up with Liam Scales and Mikey Johnston, who are also part of the Irish squad, and will compete with former Celtic striker Adam Idah, now at Swansea City, for a starting role.
It’s another deserved step forward for Kenny, whose resurgence under O’Neill has not only helped Celtic rediscover their spark but also put him firmly back on the international radar.
