Kelechi Iheanacho expressed disappointment after scoring in the Europa League but failing to secure victory, admitting he was gutted while praising fans for their support.

Kelechi Iheanacho's impressive run of form for Celtic continued in the Europa League on Wednesday, but the Nigerian forward admitted he was "gutted" not to have secured a victory for his new club.

The forward's goal put the Scottish giants ahead, but they were ultimately pegged back to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Crvena Zvezda side in a tough European test.

The Super Eagles star, who came off the bench at half-time, made an immediate impact, showing his clinical finishing with a well-taken goal in the 55th minute.

It was his first-ever European goal for Celtic and a moment of personal victory that continued his bright start to life under Brendan Rodgers.

Despite the individual milestone, Iheanacho's post-match reaction to the draw was one of disappointment.

He took to his social media account to express his frustration at the result, writing, “European nights!! Gutted we didn’t get the win tonight, we go again next week. Thank you to our amazing fans for the support.”

His message paints a picture of the competitive drive that has fueled his recent return to form and his clear desire for more than just a point on the road.

In a separate video interview with TNT Sports, Iheanacho expanded on his mixed emotions. "It felt good, to be honest," he said.

"I am happy to play for Celtic, to play my first European game, with them. It was a good outing, we played a strong side and got a point from it."

This contrasting perspective, both gutted by the result but happy with his performance and the team’s effort, shows a player who is fully bought into the club's ambitions.

While a win would have been ideal, a point on the road in a hostile environment is a solid start to their European campaign.

Iheanacho's goal, which adds to his recent streak of scoring or assisting in three consecutive matches, proves his worth as a game-changer for Celtic.