Johnny Kenny reveals Celtic star strikers influence as 'lucky' starlet plays down flying pre season start

The young Irish starlet was given a first team runout in Austria and showed his potential with a couple of goals.

Johnny Kenny admitted training alongside Celtic’s deadly frontmen during pre-season has helped him immensely as he got off to a flyer with a double in the Scottish Premiership champions’ friendly romp over Wiener Viktoria in Austria.

The teenager arrived at Parkhead midway through last season when he signed a five-year deal from Sligo Rovers, worth around £150,000, after netting 11 goals in the League of Ireland Premier Division. And the 19-year-old showed his nose for goal with a brace as only the woodwork and Christopher Jullien’s quick reaction at the rebound denied him a first half hat-trick.

But Kenny is loving the experience of being with Ange Postecoglou’s first team in central Europe as they step up preparations with a friendly against Rapid Vienna on Saturday as the champions build up to the start of the defence of their Scottish Premiership title against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Sunday, July 31.

And the frontman told Celtic TV : “The intensity of training so far have been sky high, it’s been tough but very enjoyable at the same time. I’ve been learning off of Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Albian Ajeti, you can’t go far wrong with that!

“It’s been good to be out on the pitch with the first team for the first time and top it off with two goals and a 7-0 win. For the first goal, Mikey Johnston did well, I’ve played with him before so he knew he would find me at the back post and thankfully I’ve been able to finish it off. For the second one, Alexandro Bernabei whipped it in and I got a bit lucky but I had to be alive to finish it first time. Overall, it’s been a good start to pre-season but we need to keep going.

“The gaffer wants us to press high and get after teams in the top end of the pitch. The gaffer really likes the press, so we really try to go for it, it’s been good to learn and get to grips with it.”

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