Celtic's Johnny Kenny eyes Ireland spot after Bolton switch

Bolton’s new loan signing has been on the fringes of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s squad since September last year, when he was called up for a World Cup qualifier against Hungary.

His only football to date, however, was a 30-minute cameo from the bench as the Republic fought back from 2-1 down to beat Hungary 3-2 in the return game in Budapest in mid-November to seal a play-off place with Troy Parrott’s memorable stoppage time winner.

The Sligo-born striker hopes to face the Czech Republic next month in Prague, where victory would see them face Denmark or North Macedonia for a place in the finals.

“I want to play regularly every week to put myself in the picture for the Ireland squad. so it’s an aim of mine to get back playing every week,” he said.

“The aim is to get back there and to be involved in that squad. It’s the ultimate ambition to play for your country on a regular basis, so that’s what I hope to do.”

Kenny has played 22 times for Celtic this season, but his last league start for them was on January 3 in an Old Firm defeat against Rangers which eventually led to the sacking of head coach Wilfried Nancy.

He last scored on January 18 in a Scottish Cup win against Auchinleck but has six goals to his name just a year after signing for the club from Shamrock Rovers, and feels his highs and lows at Celtic Park have helped his game progress.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “It was a great year to go there and play over 30 times in such high‑calibre games, and that’s only going to help me, those experiences.

“I think it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world, so to be in and around it on a daily and weekly basis and playing some high‑magnitude games, it’s great.

“I’d obviously played at Sligo and did very well. I got my move. It didn’t go how I wanted it ideally at the start, but to get to Shamrock Rovers, do well, and then come back to Celtic over a year ago now, that was big.

“It was great to play regular first‑team football for two years on the spin. It’s hard to match first‑team football and playing regularly, so yeah, it was a big stepping stone for me.

“Now I’m looking to kick on again.”

Kenny joins a Wanderers side which has taken 13 points from the last 15 moving into another crucial run of fixtures, including a visit to second-placed Lincoln City a week on Saturday.

It remains to be seen whether Kenny will get his debut against Barnsley on Saturday at the Toughsheet, having carried a minor calf injury in the last fortnight at Celtic.

But the 22-year-old is determined to make a positive impact on Bolton’s season and help them meet their collective target of promotion to the Championship.

“I hope to bring goals, work rate, and just help the team all around,” he said. “I think if I can bring the level I know I can bring, we can get to where we want to.

“I’ve watched a few of the last games and seen some results from a distance, so obviously they’re on a good roll and hopefully we can maintain that.”