Celtic urged to renew Iheanacho’s contract following Motherwell heroics

Former Super Eagles and Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has urged Celtic to award a new deal to their in-form striker Kelechi Iheanacho, Afrik Foot reports.

The 29-year-old has become a reliable option off the substitute’s bench for Martin O’Neill of late, with his 99th-minute strike against Motherwell propelling Iheanacho’s status as a cult hero with the Hoops.

The former Manchester City striker joined Celtic last summer on a one-year contract with the option to renew for another year.

Ogenyi Onazi backs Kelechi Iheanacho for Celtic stay

The 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner suffered multiple hamstring injuries in his first few months in Scotland, and since then has been on the fringes of the first team, until recently where he’s become a clutch figure from the bench.

Onazi, once a teammate with Iheanacho in the Nigerian National team, described the ex-Leicester City attacker as a ‘smart’ footballer and believes a pre-season run with Celtic will bring out an even better version of the striker next season.

“Iheanacho has shown what he can do and I am not surprised that he has been in good form recently with Celtic,” the former Lazio midfielder said in an interview with Footy Africa.

“He might not be the fastest player, but he is a very smart footballer who keeps his cool, as he showed when taking that superb penalty with all the pressure that came with the game.”

“I believe Celtic will do the right thing and keep him at the club. If he gets a good pre-season, he will do even more for them because I have always believed he has a lot to offer any team,” Onazi continued.

“It is unfortunate things did not go well for him at Sevilla FC, but he did not allow that to deter him. Even though he does not start games regularly, whenever he gets the chance, he takes it well.

“I think he has seven or eight goals for them this season, mostly from coming off the bench. Celtic would do well to exercise the option of another year because he has proven himself in my opinion,” the AFCON 2013 winner concluded.

Iheanacho could win his sixth major career trophy next Saturday if Celtic defeat Hearts.