Adam Idah must crack Celtic contrast for Ireland as country striker battle could shift to Parkhead

Daily Record

4 hours ago

The Hoops hitman still has some doubters to win over despite rattling 20 goals on the way to the domestic double last season
Adam Idah gets a fair bit of flak for a guy who scores every 100 or so minutes on the pitch for Celtic.
The big striker notched 20 goals last season for the Hoops and to add to the nine he bagged during his six months loan stint the previous campaign – which included three in the Champions League, a couple against Rangers at Ibrox and the winner in the Old Firm Scottish Cup Final in 2024.
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Yet there are still some doubters to be won over on the back of his big money move from Norwich City last summer.
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And Idah's international boss Heimer Hallgrimsson can see signs of progress already.
The frontman was handed a start for Republic of Ireland in their 1-1 draw with Senegal on Friday night and Icelandic gaffer spotted some encouraging signs.
Hallgrimsson knows Idah's role with the Irish side is completely at odds with the task the striker faces with Celts.
In Scotland, it's often up against 10 men parked behind the ball and space is tighter than a Weight Watchers meeting in a phone box.
The boot is often on the other foot with Ireland but Hallgrimsson has been impressed with the versatility shown by the Cork lad.
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Idah is added more and more to his game with club and country and he's convinced the big man will shine for both.
Hallgrimsson said: 'He produced a solid performance. His workrate was, I thought, better than often before. Again, it's healthy competition up front.
'Adam took the job seriously. Workrate has not been an issue but in his club it's just so different a role and it's difficult to switch.
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'We need a lot of defending from our strikers and he's just not used to it at Celtic – where they have their possession at say 60 or 70 or 80 percent in games.
'The space he needs to work on in games is small. It's a switch and hopefully players are learning more and more. He is growing. He knows what we expect, so that's a positive sign.'
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Idah is battling it out with AZ Alkmaar's Troy Parrot and Brighton's Evan Ferguson to be the main man up top for Ireland and he's likely to be given another crack in the clash against Luxembourg on Tuesday.
And there's still a chance Idah and Ferguson could be club rivals as well. Celtic were in the hunt to land the Seagulls ace on loan in January before West Ham stepped in.
The 20-year-old's domestic career has stalled over the last season after bursting on to the scene the previous campaign when he rattled 16 goals.
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It's been a tougher 12 months and the spell at West Ham didn't go to plan, with just eight goalless appearances, mainly from the bench.
Ferguson was on trial at Parkhead as a teenager when he was with Bohemians and has admitted to being a boyhood Hoops fans.
Rodgers is in the marker for a striker to compete with Idah next term – and could be keeping a close eye on Ireland this week.
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Ferguson's international gaffer is hoping to give the frontman a spark that he can take back into the club game for pre-season.
Hallgrimsson said: 'Evan has been really good and we were even thinking of starting him against Senegal.
'He's been sharp in training and I think you saw when he came on he was sharp. We've been really happy with him in the sessions. Whether he was ready for 90 minutes, we were not sure.
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'When you do friendlies and give players a chance you will get answers. Not all of them will be positive answers but you need to have answers.
'The new players have rocked the boat a bit, so the players watching will think 'oh, this one is coming'.'
Hallgrimsson also has Hoops defender Liam Scales on board. The centre back came off the bench against Senegal and is in line for a start in Luxembourg after another solid season for Celts, where he eventually saw off the challenge of Auston Trusty to nail down a starting berth for the run in.
Hallgrimsson said: 'We need to have more than one option because if you are injured in September you might miss out for the whole series of six qualifiers. We must be prepared for that as well.'