Brendan Rodgers has never been one to dwell on what could have been. Following Celtic’s failure to secure a replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi in the January transfer window, the manager has turned his attention to an in-house solution: Johnny Kenny. While some may view this as a move borne out of necessity rather than choice, history suggests that if anyone can nurture a young striker into a first-team asset, it’s Rodgers.

A Missed Transfer Opportunity

Celtic’s inability to land a new striker was one of the most talked-about aspects of the transfer window. Rodgers himself admitted the club wanted reinforcements at the top end of the pitch but ultimately failed to get a deal over the line. Speaking about the situation, he was candid:

“We clearly wanted to do it. We wanted to have that support at the top end of the field. We didn’t manage to do that.” He told Celtic TV.

Instead of focusing on what didn’t happen, Rodgers has set his sights on maximizing the potential of a player already within the squad.

Johnny Kenny: A New Focus for Rodgers

Johnny Kenny has been with Celtic since 2022 but spent last season on loan at Shamrock Rovers, gaining valuable experience in European competition. Now back in Glasgow, the young Irishman is getting the chance to prove himself. Rodgers has taken a keen interest in his development, praising his physicality, finishing ability, and overall progress.

“Johnny Kenny will be here, and even in the three weeks or so he’s been training with us, you can see the real difference in him. His experience at Shamrock and playing in Europe has helped him. He’s a brilliant finisher, physically in a good place. So, I’m now putting my time into him, working with him, and seeing how he develops because he’s a natural finisher in the box.”

Rodgers’ words indicate that Kenny isn’t just being thrown into the deep end as a stopgap—there’s genuine belief in his ability. If he can take the next step in his development, Celtic may find themselves with an internal solution to their striker shortage.

One of Rodgers’ biggest strengths as a manager is his ability to develop young players. At Celtic, he played a key role in the rise of players like Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor. His time at Leicester City saw him refine Jamie Vardy’s game even further while giving James Maddison the platform to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s top midfielders.

If the young Irishman is willing to learn, there’s every chance that Rodgers will mold him into a genuine first-team option.