Celtic’s striker department has taken a few twists and turns of late.
At the start of the campaign, Kyogo Furuhashi was leading the line for Celtic, with Adam Idah returning to Glasgow permanently, and Daizen Maeda playing out wide.
But then, Kyogo left during the January transfer window, and it opened up the number nine door.
The Celtic Park faithful, along with Brendan Rodgers, expected a striker to arrive during the winter transfer window, but the club couldn’t get one over the line.
It proved to be a blessing in disguise because Maeda went goal crazy, including winning Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year award, and it also meant more minutes for Idah.
That included the Republic of Ireland international starting up top as Celtic recorded a 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox.
- READ MORE: What Adam Idah did to the Rangers fans as he celebrated Celtic equaliser fans might have missed
Adam Idah defended after Celtic’s draw to Rangers with Kyogo Furuhashi comparison
There are two sides to Idah, the one who missed that one-v-one chance in the first half, then watched Cyriel Dessers score at the other end.
Then, the one who equalised in the second half to score yet another goal against Rangers, and yet another one at Ibrox.
Kris Boyd admitted that he has been a previous critic of Idah, but he defended the Celtic hitman after the Glasgow derby.
The striker-turned-pundit told Sky Sports Football (04/05/25) that people are always going to ‘compare’ Idah to Kyogo when they shouldn’t do.
“When you look at both strikers (Idah and Dessers), they have been criticised by a lot of people this season, myself included,” said Boyd.
“But the numbers are actually good considering that Adam Idah hasn’t been a regular. They score goals. When you look at Celtic, most of the time, I know it ends with the striker and the ball coming across the front of it. A lot of the build-up play is in the wide areas.
“I think Kyogo and Maeda. They are two totally different strikers, so they are going to bring something different to the team. Adam Idah might not take part in the game for long periods, but he scores goals, and he has.
‘He has got himself in a position where he could get his shot away. He said himself that he ‘could do better’ with the one in the first half – I know he turns, hits and takes a deflection. But he is in the right position again.
“You are always going to be compared to, for instance, it was Kyogo who left, and people will say ‘Idah has to come in and do exactly the same’. He is never going to be able to do that. By the way, there were a lot of times when Kyogo hardly touched the ball either.’
Celtic fans’ frustration with Idah as he ‘doesn’t shy’ away
When you look at the minutes Idah has played in all competitions this season (2,151 minutes) compared to Maeda’s time on the pitch (3,801 minutes), then you wonder how many goals the Irishman would have scored had he been provided with more chances.
Maeda has 33 goals in all competitions, which is just ridiculous, but Idah hitting 18 with that sort of game time is pretty healthy and strong.
But Boyd wanted to note that, no matter the ‘frustration’ from the Celtic fans towards Idah, he continues to keep going.
“I don’t think he is ever shy from missing chances,” added Boyd. “He will keep going back. He will ask questions of defenders as well. He will use his body.
‘I think, maybe, that’s the frustration from a lot of Celtic fans as well, because when he first arrived, you see him, he is big and powerful. Barging into people. Knocking them around. I don’t think we have seen that this season on a consistent basis.
“But when he has come into the team, he has scored goals.”
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