Celtic of Scotland attacker, Kelechi Iheanacho failed to pass a late fitness test before his team’s high-profile clash with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League on Wednesday, Sports247 reports.
It meant, for the umpteenth time since his arrival last summer, Iheanacho could not make it to Celtic’s bench, as they won 2-1 away to The Dons, who had Toyosi Olusanya on from the start, but he got a 41st minute yellow card.
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Olusanya was eventually replaced in the 62nd minute, after firing blanks in the hosts’ attack, while another Nigerian-born youngster, Chukwubuike Junior Adamu was on Celtics’ bench for the duration of the game.
However, in contrast with the presence of Olusanya and Adamu on the contesting teams’ respective squad lists, Iheanacho was not dressed by the visitors, which marked another chapter in his struggle with a hamstring injury.
He made a spirited drive for action in December, but failed to get a game under Wilfried Nancy, who was also his former coach at Columbus Crew of USA, before the return of Martin O’Neill.
An iota of hope was raised for ‘Seniorman Kelz’ on Tuesday, when the veteran gaffer gave a positive hint about the player’s fitness ahead of Wednesday’s clash, but all hope was later dashed for the lad on loan from Sevilla of Spain.
O’Neill revealed before kick-off that ‘Kelele’ would undergo a last-minute fitness check to determine his availability for the game, but the long wait now continues for the former Manchester City and Leicester City of England star.
The gaffer earlier told Celticway, “I think he’s got a good ability to hold it up. It’s just in terms of full fitness and things, that’s a bit of a concern. It is possible.
“I’ll just go and see how people are at this minute. But yes, anything’s possible. The way we played first half (against Glasgow Rangers), anything is possible.”
