Hartson Hails Iheanacho as Celtic’s Fear Factor in Glasgow 2026

Key points

• Former Celtic striker John Hartson has praised Kelechi Iheanacho as a major threat to Scottish Premiership defences, highlighting his recent impact off the bench.
• Hartson noted that Iheanacho has scored five goals in his last five matches, including a late winner at Dundee and two in the Scottish Cup semi‑final against St Mirren.
• He stressed that Iheanacho’s role as a substitute suits both the player and the team, because he has not yet reached the level of fitness to start and play 90 minutes regularly.
• Hartson said that Celtic can now turn to Iheanacho as “their best chance of getting a goal,” crediting the club for bringing him in when others thought his career was finished.
• The assessment comes amid a tense title run‑in in the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic’s rivals closely tracking the influence of Iheanacho as a game‑changer.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) May 8, 2026 Former Celtic striker John Hartson has said that Kelechi Iheanacho strikes fear into Premiership defences when he comes off the bench, labelling him a “big threat” and a key figure in Celtic’s current campaign. Hartson’s comments, relayed through recent punditry and interviews, underline how Iheanacho’s recent goalscoring burst has reshaped perceptions of his role at the club and his importance in the title race.

What is driving Hartson’s praise?

Celtic has increasingly relied on Iheanacho as a late‑impact option, with the Nigerian forward scoring five goals in his last five appearances, including a late winner at Dundee and two goals in the Scottish Cup semi‑final against St Mirren.

That run follows a difficult start to the season, during which hamstring injuries limited Iheanacho to just 16 matches across all competitions, underscoring how his impact has come in short, concentrated spells.

As reported by BBC Sport, Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho has

“the potential to be a pivotal player in the Scottish Premiership title contest”

if he can remain fit for interim manager Martin O’Neill. The outlet quoted former striker Cillian Sheridan noting that Iheanacho

“appears to be the one who will seize opportunities and finish them”

and that his calmness in front of goal could be decisive for Celtic, Hearts, and Rangers in the closing stages of the season.

How does Hartson describe Iheanacho’s recent performances?

In remarks covered by Glasgow‑based outlets and football media, Hartson described Iheanacho as “massive for the team,” emphasising that the momentum generated by his goals has boosted both player and fan confidence. He added that Iheanacho’s self‑belief has grown to the point that when he comes on, “everybody thinks he’s going to score,” which in Hartson’s view creates a positive psychological pressure on the opposition defence.

Hartson also highlighted the practical reasons why the substitute role suits Iheanacho, noting that

“he’s not got himself in a level of fitness to start games, where he can really play the full 90 minutes.”

Observing that Iheanacho returned in extra time against St Mirren in the semi‑final but remained on the bench for subsequent league fixtures, Hartson said this pattern reinforces that his best role is

“coming on with half an hour to go, and being that person the other team’s defence fear.”

How crucial is Iheanacho to Celtic’s title hopes?

Football Insider reported that Iheanacho could earn a new contract at Celtic if he helps the club reclaim the Scottish Premiership crown, while also potentially moving on as a free agent if the Hoops fail to win the title. The outlet quoted former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, who worked as CEO at Aberdeen, Everton, and Aston Villa, saying there is “pressure” on Iheanacho to deliver in the final six league games, given that he is due to leave on a free at the end of the campaign.

BBC Sport’s coverage of O’Neill’s verdict on Iheanacho noted that the interim boss believes the 29‑year‑old would benefit from a full pre‑season if Celtic are to extend his contract, underlining that long‑term fitness, not just short‑term cameo impact, will be key to his future at the club.

Pulse Sports Nigeria observed that Iheanacho himself has reaffirmed his importance to Celtic, after coming off the bench to score the decisive goal in a 2‑1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road, stepping up when the team most needed a winner.

Why is Iheanacho viewed as a “premium” threat?

Across recent league and cup fixtures, Celtic’s attacking resources have often been stretched by injuries and fatigue, pushing manager Martin O’Neill to rotate his frontline options. In that context, Iheanacho has tended to be held back for the final stages of games, introduced when the opposition defence is tiring and the margin for error is smallest.

As BBC Sport outlined, Iheanacho’s ability to “display a certain calmness when facing the goal” and to convert tight chances has separated him from some of the club’s other forwards in Sheridan’s judgement. Football‑focused video analysis pieces, such as those summarising Celtic’s 2‑1 win at Dundee, have described him as a player who “comes up with big moments,” including a key goal in that match and earlier pressure‑solving strikes in European fixtures and domestic cup games.

How has his background influenced his role?

Iheanacho’s path to Celtic has been shaped by fitness struggles and managerial changes at several clubs, from his time at Leicester City through loans and spells in Spain and England.

At the end of the 2024–25 season he moved on loan to Middlesbrough from Sevilla, continuing to show bursts of goalscoring form even as his playing time fluctuated.

When Celtic signed him on a one‑year free‑agent deal in September 2025, local media reported that he had already scored two crucial goals in his first three appearances, immediately signalling his potential. Hartson’s comments acknowledge that many observers had written off Iheanacho’s career at various points, stressing that Celtic deserve

“credit for bringing him in, when everybody else thought he was finished.”

How are fans and rivals reacting to the Iheanacho effect?

Supporters groups and social‑media accounts tracking Celtic have increasingly referred to Iheanacho as the club’s “super‑sub,” highlighting how his late goals have rescued points and lifted morale during a turbulent season in which the squad has been criticised for playing in “second gear.”

Applied Statistics and analytics‑driven football sites have pointed out that, relative to his minutes played, Iheanacho’s goalscoring rate ranks among the highest in the league this term, even if his total appearances lag behind regular starters.

Commentators on Celtic‑focused podcasts and radio shows, including those on platforms such as Go Radio and “Let Me Be Frank,” have echoed Hartson’s view that Cedric Itten‑style target‑man roles or similar, but one shaped by Iheanacho’s experience and decision‑making in the box remain rare within the current squad.

What are the implications for Celtic’s rivals?

Hearts and Rangers, both locked in the title picture, have had to factor in the possibility that Iheanacho can be introduced in the final 20–30 minutes as a game‑changer, according to analysis pieces published by BBC Sport and Scottish football magazines.

Those assessments note that opposing managers may need to adjust defensive structures earlier in games, anticipating that Celtic will hold a seasoned finisher in reserve rather than risk him tiring over the full 90 minutes.

Background to this development

Kelechi Iheanacho’s move to Celtic followed a transfer window in which the club struggled to secure a consistent first‑choice striker, eventually signing him on a short‑term deal as a free agent after his contract with Sevilla was terminated.

At the time of his arrival, he was 28, had recently played in Spain and on loan in England, and had a history of being a high‑impact but occasionally injury‑prone forward.

Celtic’s decision to bring him in was framed by some external pundits as a “no‑risk, high‑reward” option, given that he could be added without a transfer fee and deployed sparingly if required. Over the course of the season, that low‑risk‑on‑paper profile has evolved into a high‑value role as his goals have come at critical moments in both the league and the Scottish Cup.

What wider context shapes Hartson’s comments?

Hartson’s praise for Iheanacho fits within a broader commentary on Celtic’s season, during which the former striker has been critical of the team’s overall intensity and consistency.

In interviews and podcasts, Hartson has argued that too many Celtic players have underperformed and that standards have slipped compared with previous title‑winning campaigns.

In this context, his backing of Iheanacho as a “big threat” and a reliable source of winning goals stands out as one of the more positive assessments he has offered about the current squad, suggesting that, in his view, Iheanacho is one of the few Hoops players consistently meeting the expectations of their surroundings.

Prediction: How might this development affect different audiences?

For Celtic fans, the perception that Iheanacho can be trusted as a late‑game catalyst is likely to increase pressure on the club to secure his future if he continues to deliver in the remaining fixtures.

If he fires Celtic to the title, his late‑substitute status could be recast as a strategic masterstroke, strengthening the case for a contract extension and reshaping how the club balances squad depth against the need for a reliable, high‑finisher option.

Conversely, if injuries resurface or if Celtic fall short in the title race, the same role could be re‑examined: supporters may question whether a player who is only fit for 60–70 minutes at a time should be central to future planning.

For Celtic’s rivals and Scottish football more broadly

For rival clubs and their supporters, the emergence of Iheanacho as a feared “super‑sub” may prompt changes in how they set up late in games against Celtic, including more conservative defensive structures or earlier substitutions to protect tiring back‑lines. Coaches and analysts may also look to develop or sign similar types of impact players – those who can conserve energy for short bursts and thrive in high‑pressure finishing situations – as part of their own squad strategies.

In the broader Scottish football media landscape, the Iheanacho story could come to symbolise a shift away from viewing short‑term, injury‑prone signings as marginal and toward recognising that such players can still be pivotal if integrated into the right tactical framework. If this model proves successful, other Premiership clubs may be more willing to take calculated risks on experienced forwards with checkered fitness histories, confident that limited‑minute roles can still deliver decisive moments.