Celtic star declares when Parkhead future talks will take place amid contract uncertainty

The Nigerian international sparked wild Fir Park scenes with a last-gasp penalty strike to defeat Motherwell 3-2, keeping Martin O’Neill’s side a point off leaders Hearts with just a game to go between the pair this term at Parkhead before this season ends. Iheanacho has had issues with fitness since joining Celtic last year but has now scored late strikes in Lanarkshire, Dundee and versus Hibs, on top of an extra time brace against St Mirren on Scottish Cup semi-final business

His contract expires at the end of this season, although Celtic do have a year option they could activate. Iheanacho insists there’s too much at stake to dwell on that as he calls on the club’s big time players to step up and help retain a title they claimed last May.

Will Kelechi Iheanacho stay at Celtic?

“I think after 90 minutes on Saturday then we'll talk about that,” said Iheanacho. “I see this club is a very massive club, it's a big club, so anybody that's coming to this big club needs to know what the club expects of them. It didn't go well in the middle of the season but we pick ourselves up and we have fought to take it to the final day of the season. We're happy with where we are at the moment and we'll fight on Saturday to see that we win the trophy.

“It's very important to have big players in the team at the moment who have won things before so it's very, very important to have them with us in the team. I think the fans have been a very, very massive part this season so we'll need them one more time They'll be massive on Saturday.”

Iheanacho’s penalty has come with huge debate after referee John Beaton controversially pointed to the spot, with Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson judged to have handled the ball when jumping into a challenge with Celtic’s Auston Trusty, following a VAR review. The striker’s pulse was through the roof but he had enough composure to slot home. Only a victory will do if his side are to win the league and he expects a firm Hearts challenge as they need only avoid defeat in Glasgow’s east-end.

Kelechi Iheanacho on penalty vs Motherwell

“You don't want to know what my heart was saying at that moment,” added Iheanacho. “It was a pressure moment and I just needed to keep calm and focus and just put it in the back of the net. It was big pressure and a big moment so I'm happy we got through that. I think my teammates to fancied me to do that. It's now gone and now we just need to focus on the next one.

“It's one of the biggest moments in my career so it's up there. My heartbeat was high. It was really high. I don't know about the fans but my heartbeat was really high at that moment. I think it's a massive moment. It will be a massive moment for the club. This season, Hearts has been one of the strongest teams in the league so it's going to be a very, very difficult game. They're going to come out with everything to win the title so we need to be ready to face that.”

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