The Nigerian has hit the ground running at Parkhead following his arrival after deadline day
Brendan Rodgers and Kelechi Iheanacho(Image: SNS Group)
Kelechi Iheanacho plundered 19 goals in the season of his life at Leicester City.
And the Celtic hitman is convinced he can do even better under miracle-worker Brendan Rodgers.
Iheanacho was at the peak of his powers in 2020/21 as he helped fire the Foxes to FA Cup glory – then bagged the winning penalty to stun Manchester City in the Community Shield.
It was one of the most famous campaigns in the former Premier League champions’ history.
And after being reunited with Rodgers at Parkhead, Iheanacho is confident he can recapture the form that once made him a £25million star.
He said: ”I think it was the best season I’ve had in my career.
“So it was a great, great season for me.
“We won the cup and we won the Community Shield. It was really good, I loved it.
“Hopefully that kind of thing can happen again, maybe here in Celtic, you never know.
“It was a fantastic season. It was a miracle season, to be fair.
“Nobody knew it was coming. It was a great season under him. Hopefully that will repeat again.
“It will be a process that we just have to take one step at a time. If I get my chance to play with the help of my teammates, I can achieve that [goal tally] and more.
“But it’s just a need to focus and just take it one game at a time.”
Iheanacho is determined to spark his career back into life after a forgettable spell in Spain with Sevilla and a loan stint at Middlesbrough.
He’s already made a promising start in Glasgow by producing the goods against Kilmarnock and Red Star Belgrade.
Kelechi Iheanacho scores
And the ex-Man City prodigy knows Rodgers can get the best out of him as he looks to silence his critics.
He said: “I’ve always believed in myself and I believe in my quality and what I can do.
“It’s just to get the opportunity to show what I can do or what I can bring.
“I just believed in myself right from when I started playing.
“If the opportunity comes, I know I’m going to do well.
“But this time now, it came with someone that I know really well and someone that knows me really well.
“So I’m happy doing this under him.
“The manager knows me and I’ve worked with him quite a bit.
“He’s a brilliant manager and the way he manages players, he’s top-notch.
“I think he does it quite well and I’m happy to be working with him again. I’m really excited.”
Rodgers isn’t the only familiar face Iheanacho knows from his time in England.
The Nigerian also played with Kasper Schmeichel at Leicester – and caught his old pal on the hop by rocking up to Glasgow.
Iheanacho smiled: “He was surprised to obviously see me.
“I’d sat with him in the dressing room in Leicester for years and here again, I’m sitting with him again.
“He’s saying he can’t get rid of this guy! Kasper is a good lad so I’m happy to see him again.”
Despite his limited action over the last 12 months, Iheanacho has been able to hit the ground running at Celtic thanks to his hard graft over the summer.
He said: “When you’re not playing so much, you just need to try to keep the same level, try to be up there.
“If you’re not doing that, you wouldn’t be close to the people that are already playing games and all that. You’d be miles off it.
“So you just need to work more, work on your own if you’re not playing.
“Try to get fitness and everything, just to be close in case you have the opportunity to come back and all that.
“So you’re not too far off from where everyone is.”
Celtic’s Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates in front of fans
Iheanacho marked a dream debut for the champions by climbing off the bench to rattle a dramatic penalty winner at Rugby Park.
He followed that up with another super-sub showing against Red Star, breaking the deadlock with a clinical finish as Celts emerged from their Europa League opener with a point.
Many fans viewed his after-deadline arrival as a desperation signing but Rodgers didn’t hesitate snapping him up.
And the Hoops gaffer is adamant he’ll score a barrel load of goals in green and white after his heroics in Serbia.
Rodgers said: “He’s only going to get better. That’s because I know the player and I know how good he can be and how good he was for me.
“I’m delighted for him. Obviously when he came in, I think just because of the timing probably of his arrival and everything that surrounded our window, it maybe wasn’t so accepting for him to be in.
“But there’s absolutely no doubt of all the players on the list that came to me that actually were available, he was absolutely the standout player.
“I know his talent and I know how big a player he can be and now he’s starting to settle into this squad and the group. He’ll show that during his time here.”
Celtic fans have already taken Iheanacho to their hearts, chanting his name in the away end of Belgrade.
That was music to the ears of Rodgers who laughed: “It’s a really big one, that one!
“The Celtic support will love him. Come the end of the season, they’ll be won over by his humility, his hard work and his quality on the field because he’s a goal scorer.
“He will get goals, all different types of goals and he’ll give everything.
“So, I’m really pleased for him. He’s a wonderful finisher.
“He could have maybe had another one, but he’s like that in every game.
“He looks like he’s always going to score.”