Brendan Rodgers goes into detail on Johnny Kenny dilemma

Brendan Rodgers has discussed the options facing Johnny Kenny.

A year ago the forward was out on loan at Shamrock Rovers and almost out of mind as far as Celtic were concerned.

A run of goals in the Europa Conference and the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi changed the landscape for the striker signed from Sligo Rovers in January 2022.

Kenny found himself as third choice Celtic striker in the second half of last season, in the final month of the season he appeared at Ibrox in a Glasgow Derby, scored his first Celtic goal and provided the smallest consolation with a well placed penalty in the Scottish Cup shoot out defeat from Aberdeen.

With 12 months left on his contract Kenny finds himself in a delicate situation, one that Rodgers understands as he explained to The Examiner:

I’ve been really pleased for Johnny since I’ve seen him in January, that was close up. I think he has improved, I think he has developed.

I spoke to Johnny – funny enough – this morning, just talking about his plan. We would really like him to sign another deal at Celtic and then we will decide what’s going to be the best way to develop him, whether it’s to stay or whether we think he needs another step to go out.

He’s got a lot of strengths and a lot of qualities; he’s done very well since he came back in January.

With Callum Osmond signed from Fulham getting out on loan to an SPFL Premiership club would seem the perfect platform for Kenny to accelerate his development.

Bolton reportedly had a £500,000 offer for the striker rejected, should a far higher bid come in it will be an interesting test if Celtic decide to cash in or believe that in summer 2026 Kenny could be a first team ready striker.