Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has helped several of his first-team players reach new heights during his second spell at Parkhead.
Matt O’Riley has come on leaps and bounds under his stewardship, registering 16 goals and 17 assists inside 42 appearances this term, alongside leading the way in a host of creative metrics.
Furthermore, Liam Scales has gone from being close to an exit last summer to establishing himself as a first-team regular, featuring 42 times across all competitions for Celtic [Transfermarkt].
Since returning to Glasgow’s east end, Rodgers hasn’t had it all his own way; however, his man management of certain players has been crucial to the Bhoys’ Scottish Premiership title push, and that includes new arrivals.
On January deadline day, Adam Idah arrived on loan from Norwich City in a deal that raised eyebrows among sections of the Celtic support.
However, his exploits in digging out points at Easter Road, Fir Park, and his goal away to Rangers have endeared him to fans as without him, there may not have been a pathway forthcoming for the Hoops to claim a third successive title, which can happen tonight if they emerge with a point against Kilmarnock.
Norwich City boss David Wagner on Adam Idah’s loan spell
Loan spells mid-season can yield varying results; nevertheless, Idah has offered an alternative that was badly needed in Celtic’s forward line, netting seven goals and laying on two assists in 17 outings, per Transfermarkt.
His level of physicality and running power make him a constant threat to Scottish Premiership defences, and it is surprising to note that he only scored 17 times in 115 appearances at Norwich, albeit he is still early into his career.
Cited via The Daily Record, David Wagner, who is in charge of his parent club, has offered ‘big credit’ to Rodgers for the role he has played in getting the best out of Idah, which has coincided with speculation over Celtic potentially making a permanent move for the Republic of Ireland international.
Wagner stated: “He has a talent, but sometimes you need this boost, which you only get when you leave a club and go into another environment. The only thing that has got better after Adam left here is the music in the dressing room, because he is no longer in charge of the music box. I really wish him all the best for the final at Celtic to finish at a high.”
“I worked with him for a year and we had the conversations more than once – I think the idea grew over the last couple of months (sending him on loan) and I absolutely have seen where he comes from.
“I had the same thoughts in my head before as well. Then he and we found a very good loan – big credit to Brendan and Celtic for how they’ve used him. He’s made a big impact, and hopefully, he can help them reach their target.”
Celtic will make a decision on Adam Idah this summer
Rodgers has already indicated he will assess Idah’s future at Parkhead come the end of the season, so fans will need to wait and see how that plays out in the summer.
Whether he joins permanently or not, the Cork-born striker deserves immense credit for making his presence felt north of the border, especially given that not everyone was convinced he could live up to expectations at the beginning.
Reports suggest Norwich will demand north of £5 million in the event of any sale; however, Idah is bound to be focused on the prospect of winning a domestic double before his next steps become clear.
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