Adam Idah can be leading Celtic man as support act steps up on the biggest stage
Adam Idah knows there is a big act to follow now Celtic legend Kyogo has exited stage left for France. But the big striker is determined to make the most of his big chance to become Brendan Rodgers’ leading man.
Idah’s importance to Celts shot up a notch on the back of Kyogo trading the prospect of Euro glory for a relegation scrap with Rennes. The Ireland ace responded in some style with a barnstorming display and a couple of goals in the 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday as the Hoops rounded off a successful Champions League group stage.
Rodgers’ men were rewarded for their efforts with a mega tie against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, with the draw taking place this morning. Idah’s thoughts are on the mouth-watering clash – but also on stepping up to play a major part in Celtic’s near future. The 23-year-old has mostly been Kyogo’s understudy since making his £9million move permanent last summer.
Now it’s time to take a starring role and Idah insisted he’s more than ready to put on a show. He said: “Kyogo’s been fantastic. He was a great player, he’s a legend at the club.
“It was good playing with him, watching him, he was an unbelievable player, but now it’s up to me. I’ve got big boots to fill, and it’s great for me, it’s great motivation. I just want to keep the spot now and keep going. No matter what team I’m at, I always want to play.
“Sometimes with football you’re not going to play every game, and I’ve been through it before when I was at Norwich and here, but all I can do is give my best for the team, and when I do get the chance to try and take it, it’s part of football. I don’t really want that mentality to think I’m going to be the man and no one can take my spot.
“There’s still some young lads in the team that can come here easily and take the spot, so I still need to have that mindset of playing well every week, getting the goals and doing my bit.”
Idah has rediscovered his goalscoring form at just the right time after struggling to find the net over the winter. The frontman went 15 appearances without finding the net but he forced the crucial Champions League winner against Young Boys last week and rattled an impressive brace in Birmingham.
Idah is adamant he wasn’t too down in the dumps during the drought – but he’s hoping the Villa Park plunder will kick-start a hot streak. He said: “I nearly broke my hip [for the first goal]! I just lifted the leg and it came off clean, so I was obviously delighted with it and that’s probably what I needed.
“With the goal last week going in with the own goal and then the other night, I think that’s all you need. Hopefully I can go on and get my run now.
“People have seen what I can do before. I’m not going to play great every single game. People need to understand that nobody is perfect and so many players have gone through spells that are probably not doing great and not scoring.
“I know I can do it. I’ve been doing it before. I’ve played in the Premier League. I know the level. It’s just about going out and doing it now and that’s the thing for me, is to have the confidence to go out and just do what I can do.
“Everyone thinks I was frustrated, annoyed and disappointed but it doesn’t really bother me. I’m going to have this probably so many times in my career where I go through a spell where I don’t score. I just have to keep working hard.”
Idah was sad to see Kyogo go – but he can’t wait to team up with returning hero Jota after being wowed by his first look at the Portuguese winger. He said: “Yeah, it’ll be great. Obviously, he’s a fantastic player.
“When he was here before, he was unbelievable, and I’ve seen him in training in the last couple of days and he’s been fantastic. It’ll be great to play with him and hopefully he has a couple of assists in the bag for me. I’m sure he will. I think he brings a lot of joy. He’ll be fantastic for the team.”
