Celtic’s Johnny Kenny gets late Ireland call-up after injury to Ferguson

Celtic striker Johnny Kenny has been handed a late call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for upcoming matches against Portugal and Hungary.

The 22-year-old replaces injured Roma forward Evan Ferguson, who has been ruled out of the international break.

Kenny, currently on fire under interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, has scored four goals in his last four appearances—including a vital strike in a 3-1 victory over Rangers at Hampden earlier this month. 

His towering header opened the scoring in that high-profile clash, marking a career-defining moment for the Sligo native.

The former Shamrock Rovers forward had previously been named in Ireland’s September squad under Heimir Hallgrímsson but remained an unused substitute. Now, with a first senior cap within reach, Kenny travels to the national team camp with growing confidence.

His breakthrough at Celtic has come amid an injury crisis that sidelined key attackers Kelechi Iheanacho, Daizen Maeda, and Callum Osmand. 

Originally signed by Brendan Rodgers, Kenny has seized his opportunity, starting all four games under O’Neill, who has deployed him centrally in every match.

The 73-year-old interim manager has publicly praised Kenny’s work rate, movement, and clinical finishing. “Johnny’s earned this,” O’Neill said after the Kilmarnock win. “He’s been excellent for us, and now he gets a chance on the big stage.”

Kenny represented Ireland at U21 level on eight occasions between 2023 and 2024, scoring once during a loan spell at Shamrock Rovers. 

His form this season has justified Celtic’s faith as he signed a four-year contract extension earlier this year, tying him to the club until 2029.

As Celtic continue their title defence and European campaign, Kenny’s international recognition adds another layer to a remarkable rise. Fans will hope his momentum carries into the green jersey, and back to Parkhead.