Johnny Kenny has thanked Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers for believing in him after he scored his first goal for the Hoops in a 5-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie. The young striker was given his first start on Wednesday night and made the most of it by getting on the scoresheet in front of the home crowd.travelling support.
Kenny returned to Celtic in January after a loan spell at Shamrock Rovers in Ireland. Since coming back, he has only made eight appearances, most of them from the bench. But Rodgers gave him a chance from the start against Aberdeen, and the 21-year-old didn’t disappoint.
His goal against Aberdeen was a big moment. He looked sharp, worked hard, and showed that he could be trusted to play a role for the Hoops. The Celtic support gave him a big cheer when he scored, and it clearly meant a lot to him.
He said: (Celtic TV), The gaffer’s been unbelievable with me since I came back.
“I knew I had to be patient and I trusted him in what he said, and he’s been absolutely second to none.
“Every day, even though I haven’t been playing that much, he’s been there to try and make me a better player and he has definitely made me a better player.
“The confidence he gives me is amazing and thankfully I repaid him on Wednesday night.”
Rodgers has often spoken about the importance of young players being ready when called upon. Kenny followed that advice. He stayed focused, kept working hard in training, and took his chance when it came.
It’s clear Kenny is thankful for the support he’s had from Rodgers. After a slow start to life at Celtic, this could be a turning point for him—getting his first goal and starting at a tough ground like Pittodrie.
Now, the Irish striker will hope to build on this and keep pushing for more minutes in the final two games. It was a good night for Celtic, a great night for Kenny, and a moment he’ll never forget.
