It’s not the primary time Nigeria worldwide Iheanacho has come to Celtic’s rescue in current weeks.
The previous Manchester Metropolis and Leicester Metropolis striker has solely made eight begins since signing on switch deadline day in September.
The 29-year-old nonetheless appears in need of full health, however has now scored 4 occasions in his previous 5 of 12 video games off the bench.
Two of these got here in additional time as Celtic progressed to the Scottish Cup last at St Mirren’s expense, whereas the others have been league winners in Dundee and Edinburgh.
No surprise O’Neill described him as a “tremendous affect participant”, the newest coming after he managed a nook on his chest earlier than delivering a medical end.
Former Celtic midfielder John Collins described it as a “super little bit of composure in a packed field with our bodies throughout him”.
“Iheanacho has an excellent consciousness of what is spherical about him,” he stated. “He can take it in and you may play one-twos off him, however what he would not have is legs to start out a sport.
“So the supervisor has a choice to make. Do you have got him on the bench when video games are normally received within the final 20 minutes?
“I believe he’ll be a bench participant used for the final minutes till the tip of the season. However there’s each likelihood he may very well be a hero on the finish of the season.”
Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner additionally praised Iheahacho for his current affect however doubts he’ll ever get again to the degrees of health required to be a daily starter.
Nevertheless, may O’Neill be pressured to show to the Nigerian given Maeda, who has sprung to life himself with 4 targets in his newest three outings, ended the sport limping off holding his boot?
There isn’t a definitive information but concerning the extent of the Japan ahead’s damage. Nevertheless, O’Neill stated he “desperately hoping he might be okay” earlier than subsequent Sunday’s last, probably essential, Previous Agency derby of the season.
