‘He will score a lot of goals’ — Barcelona icon raves about Super Eagles star Iheanacho

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is already making waves at Celtic after netting twice and providing an assist in just three matches.

His form has not gone unnoticed, with former Barcelona forward and England legend Gary Lineker among those tipping him for a prolific spell in Scotland.

Lineker, who shared the Leicester City connection with Iheanacho, was full of praise after the Nigerian’s Europa League strike against Red Star Belgrade.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, the 64-year-old said: “I’ve seen the highlights, one of our favourites from Leicester, Kelechi Iheanacho scored, I think he will score a lot of goals for Celtic. I mean, Brendan Rodgers obviously knows him really well when he managed him at Leicester.”

The former England striker underlined Iheanacho’s instincts in front of goal: “He’s a very, very good finisher, Kelechi, and I think in the Scottish League he will bag a lot of goals.

When he’s on it, he’s streaky. He’s a natural goalscorer, and his movement is mature. We liked him at Leicester. He was always happy and had a good attitude, even when he was left out. Maybe that’s why he’s not realised that potential we all thought he would hit.”

Former Manchester City teammate Micah Richards also weighed in, recalling Iheanacho’s early promise. “I was with him at Manchester City, and he was a nine, and if I’m being totally honest, I expected a little more. That’s how good I thought he was going to be,” Richards said on CBS Sports Golazo.

The ex-defender reflected on Iheanacho’s career trajectory: “Perhaps not Champions League football in this country, but I thought he could be a striker in a top-five club, given his outstanding composure for the goal.

He had his chance at Manchester City, started scoring some goals, and then Leicester paid a lot of money for him. I think it was a record sale at the time for City, but it just has not worked out. He’s now at Celtic, and it looks like he’s got his confidence back, so what a platform to show that as well.”

With Celtic sitting top of the Scottish Premiership ahead of their clash with Hibernian, Iheanacho’s growing influence could be decisive as the Hoops aim to dominate both domestically and in Europe.