Who is Adam Idah? Celtic bound striker itching to silence doubters and prove fan club right over lofty signing fee

Adam Idah is about to become Celtic‘s second-best signing in January, but a frustrated fanbase is largely disappointed in him. Supporters are also voicing their concerns to Brendan Rodgers and the board via calls, social media, and burning hotlines on their January intake, of which Nicolas Kuhn is the only person now in the “pile” of completed deals.

And while the Republic or Ireland star isn’t a global name he’s very much a familiar face among the section of supporters who maintain a vested interest of the Emerald Isle’s international side. Idah has been with Norwich City since he was a teenage but it appears David Wagner is keen to cut ties with a player who has been a regular, albeit, at times, fleeting contributor for the Canaries this season. The irony is he will be replaced at Carrow Road by Sydney Van Hooijdonk – the son of Pierre who was linked but was never truly on the Parkhead wishlist.

Record Sport run the rule over the forward who will provide competition up top alongside Kyogo and Oh for the second half of the season with a bumper Champions League loot on the line with Rangers hell-bent on leapfrogging their rivals to eight guaranteed games in the new money-spinning league format.

Bold proclamations fizzle

In many respects, Idah represented a bold new era in Irish football that was more hype than reality. Not that the 22-year-old can’t return, but neither Idah nor his fellow up-and-coming talent were able to produce the outcomes necessary to maintain Stephen Kenny in his current position. Watchers of the team managed by the former manager of Dunfermline are convinced that the youth movement was too harsh and that short-lived victories, like the 3-0 victory against Scotland, could not conceal the lows. Idah was a standout player for Kenny in his younger years, but he never quite made the grade for the senior team.

And even Kenny, who specialised in extolling Idah’s, virtues, challenged the striker to take his game to the next level at the start of the season. He said: “Adam hasn’t shown that (natural goalscoring at international level). He has been a prolific goalscorer for Ireland up the levels, at all the levels, and injury had halted his career, two knee injuries but he’s still a very exciting talent. He has a lot but he needs to kick on in his career, this is a big year for him also.”

Sting like a Canary

Although Idah enjoys a good reputation at Carrow Road, there is a palpable feeling among the team’s ardent supporters that he could have done more since making his breakthrough as a teenager.Chris Sutton, a record sport columnist and Celtic idol who is aware of the local music in East Anglia, isn’t sure Idah is the best addition for the Premiership winners.

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