Forgotten Celtic man gets assurances over future as explanation given for midweek transfer

The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers after being part of the Celtic first-team squad. He returned to Parkhead with a knee injury and did not feature in any of the club’s pre-season matches.

Speculation has mounted that Kenny could be allowed to leave Celtic Park during this transfer window, but Maloney – who could hold the managerial fort for Celtic’s match against Kilmarnock on Sunday should Martin O’Neill not recover from a “minor procedure” – indicated the Irishman has a future in Glasgow.

"At the moment, yeah, I think he spoke to Martin and he's staying,” said Maloney of the former Shamrock Rovers hitman. “He's part of the squad. I think there was something online about the squad number, that was incorrect. So, yeah, Johnny's part of the squad.

"I'd say he's just about fit now. He hasn't been fit during pre-season. He's one of ours and he's fighting to get minutes on the pitch.”

Kenny is likely to battle it out with new signings Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran, as well as fellow youngster Callum Osmand for the No 9 shirt.

Meanwhile, Maloney has explained the decision to let midfielder Paulo Bernardo leave Celtic on loan to Polish side Gornik Zabrze. The 24-year-old Portuguese had become a bit-part player under O’Neil over the past nine months and will look to kick-start his career in Poland.

“Paulo and Martin spoke,” said Maloney. “There was a loan offer for him in January and we really wanted him to stay. He’s a brilliant professional and a great player, but he needed to play games.

“Paulo and Martin came to the decision that if he wasn’t going to be a regular here, he should go and get games. He is a great professional, a great guy and trains 100 per cent every day, even when he doesn’t squads. We will see where he is at in 12 months’ time.”