Celtic’s summer transfer window was an eventful one, but not for all the right reasons.
Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah went out the door, following Kyogo Furuhashi who left the Hoops in January.
This left Brendan Rodgers in need of attacking options, and needing them fast ahead of the Hoops’ Champions League qualifier. As we all now know, that didn’t happen.
A perceived lack of timely backing for the Parkhead boss angered elements of the support, who have staged in-stadium protests at the club’s last two domestic fixtures.
But the squad is set in stone for the next few months – and for one new addition, there is one thing that isn’t there yet, according to Stiliyan Petrov.
Stiliyan Petrov on what Celtic need for new signing
Sebastian Tounekti was the only late-window signing to start the Hoops’ 1-1 draw in Belgrade, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Michel-Ange Balikwisha among the substitutes.
Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Iheanacho came off the bench to make an impact, just as he did in his debut at Rugby Park. For Petrov, there is one thing that the Hoops forward needs to be a ‘great signing’ for the team.
Petrov said on TNT Sports: “There’s no doubt that he’s got the ability to play football, he’s shown that at the highest level. That’s probably why he was brought to Celtic Football Club. Even in the last moments, he can be crucial for Celtic
“Tonight he has shown that he’s got the quality, but his match fitness isn’t there. Brendan Rodgers was talking that he needs to be managed.
“But if they get Iheanacho fit, and he can produce what he used to produce as a player, then he’ll be a great signing for Celtic.”
Will Kelechi Iheanacho start for Celtic against Hibernian?
Regardless of whether he is fully fit to play, Iheanacho’s Celtic record puts him in a seriously strong position to become the main starting striker.
Daizen Maeda’s form hasn’t quite been the same after a summer which saw him denied a desired move away from the club.
And though the Nigerian’s two Hoops goals have come after being brought in from the bench, he showed his class from the start against Partick Thistle last weekend.
The only way to get him fully up to speed is by giving him more minutes we will see on Saturday whether that’s the case.