Celtic have won the Scottish Premiership title in 13 of the last 14 seasons, but might just be facing genuine competition for this season’s trophy.
Last Sunday, Brendan Rodgers’ team were beaten domestically for the first time this season, defeated 2-0 by Dundee at Dens Park.
This, though, had been on the cards for a while.
Across the previous four Premiership outings, the Hoops had required stoppage time goals to beat both Kilmarnock and Motherwell, as well as being held to goalless draws by Rangers and Hibs, thereby failing to score on six occasions across all competitions to date.
So now, on Sunday lunchtime, they will travel to league leaders Hearts, the Jambos currently five points clear at the top, so which “animal” should Rodgers select in attack for this eagerly-anticipated clash at Tynecastle?
The latest Celtic injury news
Celtic did claim their first European victory of the season on Thursday, fighting back from a goal down to beat Sturm Graz 2-1 in the Europa League, but this win may have come at a cost, or three to be exact.
During the first half, featuring for the first time since picking up an injury against Kairat on 20 August, Alistair Johnston suffered a recurrence of this hamstring tear, which is a major blow for both the player and Rodgers.
Even before that, as early as the fourth minute, Kelechi Ịheanachọ had hobbled off too, which is not ideal considering he’s the only senior centre-forward at the club.
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Then, right at the end, star centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers was stretchered off having picked up a serious Achilles tendon injury that could see the American international sidelined until March; an enormous blow.
On top of this, Daizen Maeda is also already sidelined, unlikely to feature at Tynecastle on Sunday, while also a doubt for the following Sunday’s clash with Rangers in the League Cup semi-finals at Hampden.
The Japanese striker scored 33 goals last season, per Transfermarkt, four of which came in the Champions League, with former Celtic striker Chris Sutton thereby asserting that he ranks among the club’s best-ever bargain buys, alongside Henrik Larsson and Ľubomír Moravčík.
Now, though, with neither Maeda nor Ịheanachọ, Rodgers has to trust the Celts’ rarely-seen “animal” to lead the attack.
Celtic's new Daizen Maeda
When Ịheanachọ hobbled off very early against Sturm Graz, it was Johnny Kenny who was introduced, so it stands to reason that he will be the number nine for the foreseeable.
The young Irishman joined Celtic back in January 2022 from Sligo Rovers, before being immediately loaned out to Queen’s Park, subsequently making a name for himself in a different shade of green and white hoops.
His form at Shamrock Rovers certainly caught the attention of those across the Irish Sea, with the table below documenting his eye-catching form in Dublin.
Appearances
76
Goals
26
LOI goals
18
European goals
7
Assists
8
Statistics below are UECL only (per 90):
Shots
2.9
Shots on target
1.9
Shooting accuracy %
66.67%
% of touches in opposition area
13.5%
As the table above notes, Kenny scored 13 goals in the League of Ireland last year; only two players bagged more, but it was his European form that caught the eye.
The youngster scored five goals in six Conference League appearances, helping Rovers reach the knockout phase, on target against Larne, APOEL Nicosia and Rapid Wien, before bagging a brace when Borac Banja Luka were battered 3-0 at Tallaght.
Speaking on Premier Sports, following Shamrock Rovers’ credible 1-1 draw in Vienna last November, former teammate Ronan Finn asserted that Kenny has become a “different animal” in recent years, adding that “physically he’s got stronger” and that his ceiling is sky-high.
Stylistically, Kenny proved to be not only a clinical finisher in the box, but also an energetic nuisance to defenders, constantly closing them down and running all day, characteristics he certainly shares with Maeda.
Since returning to Celtic in January, he has seen limited game time, just 438 minutes to be precise, heading home his first goal for the club at Pittodrie back in May, before also netting during the drubbing of Livingston in August.
So now, set to enjoy a run in the team, can he replicate the success enjoyed by Maeda?
When the Japanese forward first arrived in January 2022 from Yokohama F. Marinos, he was very raw, often erratically missing chances, but has now become a well-rounded attacker who is a pivotal figure in this side.
Well, as already alluded to, Kenny possesses similar traits, simply needing an opportunity to showcase what he is capable of, so could he come to the fore and be the hero at Tynecastle on Sunday as Celtic’s new Maeda?
