Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho marked a significant return to action by scoring the winning goal for Celtic in their 2-1 victory over Dundee United at Dens Park. The match, played on a Sunday, saw Iheanacho, who has endured a challenging campaign hampered by recurring injuries, come on as a 58th-minute substitute with the game tied. It took the Nigerian international just 24 minutes to find the back of the net, securing a vital victory for the Hoops.

The former Leicester City man expertly met a cross from Marcelo Saracchi in the 82nd minute, peeling away from his marker before smashing the ball home with venom to make it 2-1. This strike proved to be the decider, marking Iheanacho’s first goal of the calendar year and his first since a 3-2 win over Motherwell on October 5. The relief on his face was palpable at the final whistle as he finally got the 'monkey off his back' after months of injury setbacks, celebrating the hard-fought result with the traveling fans.

Speaking after the match, Kelechi Iheanacho expressed his satisfaction and determination, reflecting on the difficulty of being sidelined. He stated, “It feels good to contribute to the team. We've been working really hard. Obviously, it's not been great for the past few weeks, but I think today we showed character, discipline, and the togetherness needed to win the game.” He added, “I'm satisfied. It's important to help the team get the win. Personally, but collectively as a team, we really worked hard to get this today. Yeah, obviously everyone has to improve, and I personally have to keep working hard to help the team get there at the end.”

Celtic’s coach, Martin O'Neill, was delighted with Iheanacho's performance, especially given the meticulous management of his minutes following recurring hamstring injuries in the first half of the season. O'Neill commented, “Iheanacho came on and scored the goal which wins the game for us. Naturally, we’re delighted and we’re still in the picture.” The coach acknowledged Iheanacho's frustrating time but emphasized his quality, stating, “I know he’s had a frustrating time, but he’s been a really fine player in his career and he can find the net.”

O'Neill also reflected on the game's challenging nature, noting, “I thought we should have been out of sight by half-time but we weren’t. We missed some glorious chances – really clear-cut chances – to go and get a second goal but it didn’t happen and you always fear the worst.” He recounted his half-time message to the team, anticipating Dundee United's resurgence with the wind, and their eventual penalty. Despite this, O'Neill praised his team’s perseverance: “They got the penalty and that obviously gave them great confidence to continue on but we kept battling at it and battling it was at the end of it all.”

With this victory, Celtic moved up to third in the SPFL table, trailing league leaders Hearts by just three points. As the season enters its final stretch, Iheanacho will be looking to maintain this momentum. This performance could also significantly impact his chances of returning to the Super Eagles squad. While Victor Osimhen remains Nigeria's primary striker when fit, his recent forearm fracture led to him missing the March International break friendlies. With upcoming friendlies against Portugal and Poland before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Iheanacho's previous roles often being wider or supporting a number nine, accruing more minutes and goals will be crucial for the one-time FA Cup winner to secure a recall, especially since his last appearance was in the 2025 Unity Cup tournament.