Johnny Kenny’s intends to “make a claim for the position”

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The Celtic Star

·22 de julho de 2025

Johnny Kenny’s intends to “make a claim for the position”

After finding the net against Newcastle United on Saturday, Johnny Kenny is intent on strengthening his case to become Celtic’s first-choice striker…

Johnny Kenny of Celtic vies with Fabian Schar of Newcastle United during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Irishman took advantage of a dreadful mistake by Nick Pope in the first half, scoring his second goal in four matches so far in pre-season for the Hoops.

Vídeos OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers’ side is packed with attacking options, with Kenny, Callum Osmand, Adam Idah, and new recruit Shin Yamada all competing for game time – not to mention Daizen Maeda, who is also capable of operating up front.

Speaking via Daily Record post-match at Celtic Park over the weekend, Kenny said: “I want to go out every day in front of the manager and make a claim for the position.”

oao Simoes of Sporting CP with Dane Murray of Celtic FC and Johnny Kenny of Celtic FC in action during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting CP and Celtic at Estadio Algarve on July 16, 2025 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

“Obviously, there’s going to be a lot of rotation, but I want to be in there chipping in with goals for this amazing club. The more competition, the better. Every day is a challenge at big clubs.”

“Adam [Idah] is my fellow countryman and us Irish look after each other and he’s been brilliant with me since I came back in through the door. Daizen [Maeda] too. He’s a joy to play with. You can never write him off, he’s amazing. To play with someone like that is a joy.”

Kenny added: “It was great to get a run out again. To get a goal was a bonus. The manager has been brilliant with me, giving me the opportunity to play against big opposition. I just want to take it and learn every day.”

Johnny Kenny celebrates. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“It was a tough test physically and mentally but we handled it very well. The manager said before the game we can beat them with the pace on the ball and moving the ball and we were very good that way.”

With the manager openly stating that he wants to add another striker to his frontline it should be expected that one of Osmand or Kenny spends this season out on loan.

In fairness to Kenny, he has looked sharp in pre-season and there may be an opportunity for him to play his part when the competitive games get going. He certainly is doing everything possible to impress Brendan Rodgers and is becoming a popular player with an increasing large number of Celtic supporters.

Conor Spence

Read this – The backstory to Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter

Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.