Envision yourself as Celtic’s number 9? Adam Idah, donning this very shirt, was faced with this reality last Sunday at Tynecastle when he was about to take a penalty. Celtic’s number 9 might not hold the same prestige as the number 7 – worn by legends like Johnstone, Dalglish and Larsson – but it certainly brings with it notable responsibility and honour attached to the central role.
As Idah confronted the penalty, the inherent stress of such a moment resonated with the drama of the game, escalating in intensity due to the previous day’s events at Rangers. Rangers’ defeat to Motherwell at home had provided Celtic with an opportunity they were eager to capitalise on to climb back to the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Interestingly, we often tend to give more importance to late-game opportunities over the early ones due to their dramatic nature. However, all opportunities are significant, including this 13th-minute chance for Idah. Up until that point, he had only had one touch of the ball, a fleeting one, from a long defensive pass by Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Despite Hearts arguably not deserving a penalty against them, one was given. This gave Idah, who was making his fifth start for Celtic following an unexpected January loan move from Norwich City, an opportunity to net his sixth goal for the team, with just his second touch of the ball. Unfortunately, Idah’s shot lacked the necessary force and was easily intercepted by Hearts’ goalkeeper, Zander Clark.
Dismay soon turned to disaster. Within three minutes, Celtic found themselves a man short after Yang Hyun-jun was controversially shown a red card for a high boot. With the dynamics of the game shifting drastically with 75 minutes to go, the situation took on a new complexion.
Idah played his role well, drawing the attention of two Hearts central defenders. However, right before the half-time break, Hearts won and scored from another questionable penalty. Amid a flurry of VAR intrusions, Hearts’ promising second goal was dismissed due to a marginal offside call.
Despite being a man down in the second half, Celtic returned to the fray, with Idah getting two shots saved. Hearts, however, scored their second goal. The match ended on a sour note for Idah as he aired his grievances to the umpire. It was his first taste of defeat wearing a Celtic shirt.
Although visibly disheartened, Rodgers replied on Idah’s penalty miss that it “needed to be lifted a bit more”. He showed no fury, fully cognizant that his new No 9 has carried his weight so far.
Idah has quickly established his scoring prowess, evidenced by his brace against Motherwell the Sunday before that helped Celtic maintain their pace with Rangers. A similar feat was on display on his full debut at Hibs, where two of his goals came from penalty kicks. Consequently, as Celtic readied itself for Hearts, the conversation centered around Idah’s impact, enough to relegate Kyogo Furuhashi to the subs’ bench.
Celtic, Rodgers, and the club’s extensive fan base have had a tense relationship this term, with the slow January transfer period only exacerbating sentiments. Signed at 10:29 pm on transfer deadline day, Idah found himself amid a storm of mixed opinions. He was, by and large, labelled “Norwich City’s third-choice striker”, a label he carried as he neared his 23rd birthday.
As Rodgers revealed his personal involvement in luring Idah to Parkhead, Mark Lawwell stepped down as recruitment chief. Several Championship clubs in England showed interest, but Norwich was hesitant to loan Idah to competitors.
Rodgers shared that he had liked Idah since his junior days, getting excited when the agent informed him he was available. While there’s a negative narrative revolving around his status as third-choice striker at Norwich, Rodgers believes in Idah’s potential and is glad that he’s enjoying his time.
Idah’s healthy status and selection are tied to his contentment in Scotland. Shifting locales and priorities can induce positive change, as mirrored by Mikey Johnston’s similar growth after transferring from Celtic to West Brom in the Championship. Idah had his share of unfortunate events since his eye-catching hat-trick performance in January 2020, at age 18, in the FA Cup, three days post his Premier League appearance. A significant knee injury forced Idah to stay off the field for a significant part of 2022.
This reflects in Idah’s career trajectory, mirroring Norwich City’s fluctuating recent history of relegation-promotion-relegation-stability. Daniel Farke, Dean Smith, and David Wagner – having interacted with three club managers in three years, Idah chose a fresh test at Celtic.
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Idah’s long-term contract at Carrow Road is still active, despite some doubts in Norfolk about a player with a 17 goal-count in 115 appearances. However, 76 of these appearances (accounting for 66 per cent) were as a substitute, and only 12 of his games lasted a full 90 minutes.
This season followed a similar pattern, starting with Idah’s 90th-minute decisive goal against Hull City. However, he didn’t enter the pitch until the 86th minute, replacing Ashley Barnes, a 33-year-old former Burnley player, which wasn’t exactly a confidence boost for the Irishman.
The subsequent Saturday saw him play for three minutes, followed by ten minutes the next week. During the fourth Championship match of the season, he was once again a sub, entering after 14 minutes and exiting after 85, having just scored a goal.
Despite sounding like justifications, a player’s performance relies on a consistent rhythm, trust from management, and extensive playing time. All of which, Idah is starting to receive, despite being a part of a losing match at Hearts. However, his commitment, energy, and strong link-up game were worth praising.
Ireland stands to gain an obvious advantage with a resurgent forward like Idah, whose strong qualities are clear.
At Glasgow, he is fitting into his Celtic player role well, wearing No 9. Upon discussing this with Cameron Carter-Vickers, he confirmed that Idah is a good fit for the team, making everyone laugh with his humour and proving to be a positive presence.
Sunday sees Livingston playing at Parkhead in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup. Rodgers emphasised his ambition to secure a victory. Additionally, there’s a league title to contend for.
The upcoming three months are of significant importance to Celtic, Rodgers, and Idah. Whilst his introduction was greeted with apprehension, he could potentially be a celebrated hero by May.