NafisaCeltic have been hit with devastating news in the aftermath of their 3-1 Old Firm victory over Rangers at Parkhead, with Johnny Kenny now expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury setback that brings an abrupt end to his loan spell at Bolton Wanderers.
It is a cruel blow for the young striker, who had only recently started to find real rhythm in England after a difficult first half of the season fighting for regular minutes. Since moving on loan in February, Kenny had begun to settle properly into senior football, showing the kind of sharpness and confidence that suggested he was finally building momentum at the right time.
That progress has now been completely halted.
The injury, confirmed after Bolton’s recent defeat to Luton Town, has been described as knee ligament damage, and it immediately rules him out for the rest of the campaign, including any potential push for the League One play-offs. For a player who had worked his way into Steven Schumacher’s plans, it is a heartbreaking setback.
During his loan spell, Kenny had registered six league goals and three assists in just 14 appearances, contributing across multiple attacking roles and earning praise for his movement and willingness to adapt. It was a spell that finally gave him consistent senior exposure after a stop start period at Celtic earlier in the season.
At Celtic, Kenny had shown flashes in the first half of the campaign, scoring in matches against Falkirk, Dundee United and Livingston, but regular starts became difficult once Kelechi Iheanacho hit form and Daizen Maeda continued to carry attacking responsibility.
This latest injury now pauses all that development entirely.
While Celtic were focused on a massive derby win over Rangers that keeps their title hopes alive, news of Kenny’s condition quickly shifted attention behind the scenes, with the club now facing the reality of losing another attacking option for the remainder of the season.
Martin O’Neill, who oversaw the 3-1 win at Parkhead, is understood to be far from pleased with the timing of the setback, particularly given how tightly packed the run-in has become. Squad depth has already been tested at various points this season, and Kenny’s absence removes another body from forward areas just as every match begins to carry serious weight.
Supporters have also reacted with disappointment, especially given the strides Kenny had been making away from Glasgow. There was a growing feeling that the loan move had finally put him on the right path, only for injury to interrupt his progress at a crucial moment.
Bolton boss Steven Schumacher had earlier spoken warmly about Kenny’s impact, highlighting his goals, assists and constant threat in the final third, while also stressing how difficult he would be to replace in the short term.
Now, both clubs are left dealing with the fallout.
For Kenny, the focus shifts entirely to recovery and rehabilitation, with the hope of returning fully fit ahead of next season. For Celtic, it is another reminder of how quickly attacking plans can be affected by circumstances outside their control, even in the middle of a title defining run.
Nafisa
