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“Hopefully I can just keep repaying their support,” Adam Idah

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Adam Idah has been somewhat of a surprise package since Celtic brought him to the club on a loan deal from Norwich City in the January transfer window of this year. The big forward has consistently found the net for the Hoops and has managed to score some pretty important goals along the way since coming up the road to Scottish football.

Bagging a goal against your city rivals in a pressure-cooker of an atmosphere is not for the faint of heart, it has to be said. However, nothing about the Republic of Ireland international could be described as faint; Idah plays with no frills or airs and graces, he simply engages the opposition defence in a good old-fashioned duel to the death. And it’s been great to watch at times, it really has.

He’s brought a freshness and a vigour to the Celtic squad that has been missing and is certainly a throwback to the days of John Hartson and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink. Using that big, bustling frame, he’s always looking to press his authority in the final third of the pitch and that dig he brings to the game cannot be dismissed if the Bhoys are to go all the way this year and scoop what would be a very sweet third consecutive Scottish Premiership title come May.

Adam Idah of Celtic heads the ball over Zach Hemming of St Mirren to give Celtic a 3-0 lead. Celtic v St Mirren, Celtic Park, 13 April 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

The Cork native is enjoying his time with the current Champions and has admitted that he’s only beginning to realise how big this institution really is. “I popped into a couple of pubs back home in Cork. I didn’t expect all that, to be honest,” he said to Football Scotland. “I was shocked when I walked in! It was great seeing everyone. They sent me some footage of the place from the other weekend watching the theRangers game and the place looked amazing. It’s not far from where I grew up. My mate took me down and we met some fans and the owners. It was top class.

“I don’t think I would have got that reception if I wasn’t at Celtic. They’d just think I was just another local lad. Coming here you are treated like a hero wherever you go. It’s fantastic. I don’t know if I’ll need to buy a pint again – I hope not!

“The fans are so good. Every single person I’ve met has been top class. You can be driving through the city and people are cheering you on. It’s great for us players to have that fan base behind us. It really motivates you to fight for them.”

Celtic v St Mirren – Brendan Rodgers with Adam Idah after the Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday April 13, 2024. Photo Jane Barlow

The player revealed he’s living in a new, mad, exciting, yet undeniably wonderful world as a Celtic striker, and now he’s looking to repay that magnificent support he has been given since he walked through those famous Parkhead gates.

He said: “I knew the club was huge when I came up. I know everyone says it but you don’t actually realise how big it is until you are here. For example, I got sent a video of the goal from a pub in Australia. It was mobbed and it was going crazy.

“You realise people are watching this all over the world. It’s amazing how big this club is. It has taken me a bit by surprise. I was saying to my mum recently, I didn’t actually realise just how many Celtic tops I was seeing when I was back home.

He added: “They have always been there but maybe I just wasn’t noticing as much. It’s still a bit of a shock to me. It’s been weird. There are so many fans back home that will come up to me.

“Even lads I used to kick a ball with when I was young and are still friends are asking me for photos. I’m thinking, ‘What is going on?’ It’s crazy. My life has gone a bit strange. No matter where I go I think I’m going to bump into Celtic fans somewhere. Hopefully I can just keep repaying their support.”

3 Celtic experimental solutions for Liam Scales injury with one Brendan Rodgers go to remaining

Brendan Rodgers has an injury headache to consider at crucial point in the campaign – with Celtic facing more problems at the heart of their defence.

Daizen Maeda could be out until next season in a blow to the Scottish Premiership leaders title surge – it is at centre-back that the Hoops can’t seem to shake their problems Liam Scales has picked up a strain in his abductor with Celtic boss Rodgers stating he is unlikely to be involved during the clash with St Mirren leaving the Irishman with a major rethink of his backline for Celtic Park showdown.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Scales have been the preferred partnership this season – but with the US international and Scales being hampered by injury woes at various points throughout the campaign. And when the Parkhead boss has been forced into a rethink that has often brought concerns over the recruitment since Rodgers’ return into the limelight.

But with Celtic knowing that every game is a must-win with Rangers breathing down their necks it’s a far from ideal time to break up your preferred partnership. Record Sport looks at the options to partner Carter-Vickers.

Gustaf Lagerbielke

The Swedish defender was close to leaving Parkhead for Lecce in January after a lack of game time, but could he now have a say on the title race? He was kept around for cover during an injury crisis but still has rarely managed to secure any minutes after his £3million move last summer.

Lagerbielke has not started a game since September and has managed just two substitute appearance since his January switch to Serie A collapsed. If the decision was to keep him around due to injuries the 24-year-old will hope to finally get his chance against the Buddies.

Maik Nawrocki

Maik Nawrocki has faced an injury-hampered spell at Celtic and saw a brief run in the team come to an abrupt halt following he return of Cameron Carter-Vickers. The Polish centre-back limped off against Motherwell back in February and has yet to make another appearance.

He was designated as Liam Scales partner while Carter-Vickers was out and having made the bench in recent weeks he will be hoping he gets the chance to replace the Ireland cap. After making just 10 appearances so far this season fans will be keen to see how their £4.3million summer signing fairs on the right-side of a centre-back duo.

Stephen Welsh

The 24-year-old has remained a trusted figure at the back following Brendan Rodgers return to Celtic Park. Despite being hampered by his own injury problems this season, Welsh has often been the go-to defender should Scales or Carter-Vickers be sidelined.

When Scales was last absent in the win over St Johnstone, Welsh was given the nod. Given the stakes at play Rodgers could turn to a tested pairing.

Tomoki Iwata

While Tomoki Iwata has shown his best in the Celtic engine room in recent weeks, the return of Callum McGregor could see him pushed into a deeper role. While the fitness of the Celtic skipper remains up in the air, Iwata has shown he can play at centre-back already this season.

The midfielder was pushed back into the heart of the defence before Rodgers’ turned to Lagerbielke in the 3-1 defeat to St Johnstone. With Iwata having regular minutes under his belt, could he fill the void left by Scales?

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