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.
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.”
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.”
Paul Gillespie
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