Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho finally returned to action for Celtic F.C. during their heavy 4–1 Europa League defeat at home to VfB Stuttgart on Thursday night.

The Nigerian striker came off the bench in the 71st minute, making his first appearance since early February, when he featured as a substitute against Falkirk F.C, Footballrover reports.

Kelechi Iheanacho struggles to make an impact for Celtic

Fitness setbacks had ruled him out of recent domestic fixtures against Livingston and Kilmarnock.

His comeback, though, did little to change the outcome as Stuttgart took firm control of the tie. Bilal El Khannouss opened the scoring before Benjamin Nygren briefly restored parity.

The visitors responded quickly, with El Khannouss heading in Angelo Stiller’s delivery. Jamie Leweling extended the lead after the break, and Tiago Tomás capped the victory with a calm finish.

Iheanacho, who arrived in Glasgow last summer following his stint at Manchester City F.C., has endured an injury-hit debut season, limiting him to just a handful of league outings.

His return, however, offers encouragement for supporters hoping he can rediscover rhythm and make a stronger impact in the weeks ahead.

Ola Aina shines as Forest dominate Fenerbahce

Nigeria defender Ola Aina featured as Nottingham Forest cruised to an impressive 3-0 away win over Fenerbahçe in the opening leg of their Europa League play-off.

The dominant display in Istanbul leaves Forest in a strong position to reach the last 16 and hands new boss Vitor Pereira a dream start to life at the club amid a turbulent campaign.

Strikes from Murillo, Igor Jesus, and Morgan Gibbs-White sealed a memorable night.

Forest are now overwhelming favourites to progress, barring a dramatic second-leg collapse at the City Ground, where victory would set up a clash with Real Betis or FC Midtjylland.

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Last Updated on February 20, 2026 8:00 am by footballrover