Celtic F.C. interim coach Martin O’Neill shares the latest injury update on Kelechi Iheanacho

Martin O’Neill Issues New Update on Kelechi Iheanacho’s Injury Situation

Celtic interim boss Martin O’Neill has confirmed that striker Kelechi Iheanacho will remain out of action for several more weeks as he continues to recover from a muscle injury.

The Nigerian international, who joined the Scottish champions during the summer window, has missed recent fixtures and will once again be unavailable for Sunday’s Premiership meeting with Kilmarnock. Iheanacho picked up the problem during Celtic’s European campaign last month and has been sidelined ever since.

Speaking to the media ahead of the weekend clash, O’Neill revealed that while the forward is making progress, his return is still some way off.

“He’s going to be a few more weeks,” O’Neill said. “Obviously, after Sunday we’ve got this fortnight break, and we’ll see how things go from there. But yes, he certainly won’t be available for Sunday.”

The interim boss added that Celtic are taking a cautious approach with Iheanacho’s recovery, unwilling to rush him back too soon given the club’s busy fixture schedule and existing injury concerns. The upcoming international break, he noted, will allow the striker to continue his rehabilitation without any added pressure.

Before his setback, the 29-year-old had started to show his quality in attack, linking up well with his teammates and offering valuable experience to an otherwise youthful forward line. His absence has been felt in recent weeks, particularly as Celtic have battled through a congested schedule with limited attacking options.

O’Neill acknowledged that getting Iheanacho back fit and firing will be a major boost for the team — and possibly for whoever takes permanent charge of the club next. Until then, Celtic will continue to rely on their available attacking options, with O’Neill emphasizing the importance of using the full squad during this demanding period.

While there’s no confirmed return date, O’Neill’s comments suggest fans may have to wait until late November or even December to see Iheanacho back in the famous green and white shirt.