I am really fit, ready to conquer - Good news for Eric Chelle as Super Eagles star Kelechi Iheanacho declares himself fit

Iheanacho declares himself fit for Scottish Premiership challenge

Kelechi Iheanacho has assured Celtic fans that he is physically ready to meet the demands of the Scottish Premiership, following his dramatic match-winning debut against Kilmarnock.

The Nigeria international joined the Hoops on a free transfer earlier this month and made an instant impact, scoring a stoppage-time penalty to seal a 2-1 win at Rugby Park on Sunday.

What Ihenacho said

Reflecting on his debut, Iheanacho insisted he feels sharp enough to play full matches as he adapts to life in Glasgow.

“If you really watch the game, you can see I’m making runs to get the ball. I’m really fit, I’m ready to go for the season,” Iheanacho told Gazette Live UK.

“Am I ready to play 90 minutes? Of course, you’ll see. If you watch the team, you'll notice that there are many qualities and great players as well. Getting to know the boys and training with them, I think I’ve learned a lot in the last few days,” he added.

The 27-year-old, who endured a mixed spell at Sevilla last season, also addressed the criticism he has faced in recent years, stressing the importance of resilience.

“As a football player, you get this all the time [criticism]. When it’s not going really well, you just need to be strong; you don’t need to lose your mind. It’s a professional game, so you just focus and keep doing the work. When it clicks, you just keep going and get there,” he added.

Iheanacho’s debut goal has already raised expectations among fans, who hope his experience in England, Spain, and international football can help Brendan Rodgers’ side in both domestic and European competitions this season.

The declaration of Iheanacho for the Scottish Premier League is good news for Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, who is preparing to lead Nigeria to its fourth Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.