Adam Idah, a striker for Celtic, had a thrilling Glasgow Derby debut against Rangers, scoring a stunning goal after coming off the bench.
Unfortunately, Rabbi Matondo wiped out his strike that put the Bhoys ahead on minute 87, but even with that setback, Israel can be happy with his afternoon’s work on Glasgow’s southside.
Yogo Furuhashi was substituted by the Republic of Ireland international with little over 20 minutes of normal time remaining. He won four duels, completed three dribbles, and produced one successful cross in just 19 touches. He had a 7.5 out of 10 match rating on Footmob.
Of course, the aspect of his performance that people will remember the most is his goal. He was able to outmaneuver Jack Butland by moving the ball onto his right foot thanks to some excellent Paulo Bernardo approach play.
The 23-year-old has made 11 appearances for Celtic in all competitions, totaling six goals and two assists. Against Hibernian and Motherwell, he has scored twice at crucial moments.
Adam Idah has offered something completely different for Celtic
Idah, a Cork native, brought size and running force to the attack during his loan move from Norwich City, albeit he joined in the January transfer window with minimal fanfare. In addition, his finishing hasn’t been too awful.
He has a 29% goal conversion percentage and an average of 2.3 shots on goal (1.3 on target) per Scottish Premiership game, according to Sofascore.
Speaking in his capacity as a Parkhead employee, Idah expressed his excitement for our rematch with Rangers yesterday following what he called a “crazy” Glasgow Derby game at Ibrox.
He said, “I think the boys did fantastic from beginning to end; it was unbelievable to get the early goal! It was a terrific experience, but I’m looking forward to playing them at home. This is my first trip here, and it’s incredible what the boys did with no fans.
Idah performed admirably as a substitute in our Parkhead matchup after the break, and he could prove to be a useful alternative if he starts or comes on as a substitute.
Celtic moving for Idah permanently will depend on finances
Idah might fetch more than £3 million at the end of the season, according to reports from Ireland earlier this year. Still, Norwich will probably demand a high price for his services given his influence in Glasgow’s east end.
According to Mark Hendry, a journalist with Football Scotland, Celtic will have to wait until the conclusion of the season to see whether they can make a long-term bid.
His parent club is holding off to see if they will be a part of the next squad competing in the Sky Bet Championship or the Premier League.
The Canaries, however, are concerned about letting Idah go before his replacement, Sydney van Hooijdonk, establishes himself at Carrow Road.
It would be intriguing to watch if Brendan Rodgers organizes his summer transfer business and whether the Bhoys decide to sign Idah permanently.
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