Super Eagles and Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho played just four minutes in his side’s 2-1 Europa League win over Sturm Graz.
The 29-year-old played 90 minutes against Dundee last weekend but couldn’t be effective as they lost 2-0, their first of the season.
Iheanacho has played just two 90-minute games for the Hoops before the game at Celtic Park yesterday night. He was replaced by Johnny Kenny after he pulled off holding his thigh.
Brendan Rodgers confirms Iheanacho’s hamstring injury
Former Leicester City head coach Brendan Rodgers was delighted that goals from Liam Scales and Benjamin Nygren sealed the Hoops’ first win in the Europa League this season.
Alistair Johnston was also withdrawn after 26 minutes, and the former Liverpool coach gave updates on the injured pair and praised those who replaced them.
“Well, our problem was, in the second half, that we could only make one substitution,” the 52-year-old said in his post-match conference with TNT Sports.
“Obviously, Cam [Carter-Vickers] was struggling towards the end, but we couldn’t get him off because we had already made the subs; you only have three moments to make the subs in the game.
“The first two [Iheanacho and Johnston]? It doesn’t look great. It looks like hamstrings, but okay, that’s what happens.
“I thought the guys that came in – I thought Colby, for a young guy coming in, I thought he grew in the game, got better and was more secure as the game went on – he wants to go forward, which is what we want.
“And Johnny [Kenny] came in and ran his heart out, threatened in behind and pressed the game. A couple of wee moments in the box where he nearly got on the end of it.
“So the guys came in and stood up to it really well,” the one-time FA Cup winner concluded.
Iheanacho’s injury came at the wrong time as he’s just getting into goalscoring form. He’ll be hoping his injury doesn’t affect his chances of making Nigeria’s squad for the AFCON 2025 tournament in December.
