Adam Idah was inexplicably an unused substitute during Republic of Ireland’s 2-0 defeat to Greece last night.
The Celtic striker has started the season well since making his mega-money move to Glasgow on a permanent basis with four goals in 10 appearances.
One of those strikes came at the top level in the Champions League as he sprang from the sidelines to net in a 5-1 mauling of Slovan Bratislava but the 23-year-old has admittedly still had to settle for minutes off the bench.
Still, Idah’s form was rewarded with a national squad call-up under manager Heimir Hallgrímsson for their Nations League clashes against Finland and the Greeks.
The big Irishman was handed a chance to impress in the first outing, again off the bench, in a 2-1 victory over the Finns in Helsinki but the following fixture was another story.
Adam Idah did not feature for Ireland in their Greece defeat
With Ireland trailing 1-0 down thanks to a goal from Panathinaikos hitman Anastasios Bakasetas, ROI boss Hallgrimsson rolled the dice and opted to take off Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.
But fans of both Celts and the team on the pitch were left scratching their heads when it was defensive midfielder Jack Taylor who was sent onto the field of play over the like-for-like Idah.
As the clock ticked down with Hallgrimsson’s outfit still chasing a goal it would be the hosts who plunged their dagger in further with a second goal.
Idah has scored 13 goals for Celtic and hoped to play for his country
A strike in injury time from Petros Mantalos to seal all three points and leave the Irish wondering why Idah wasn’t thrown on with a goal there to be scored.
Idah has four goals to his name from 29 caps for his country but the player has been stop-start with Norwich City previously before his £9.5million move to Parkhead.
He has since hit 13 goals in 28 appearances under Brendan Rodgers.
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