Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers addresses Adam Idah concerns with some big talk

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has talked up the qualities of Adam Idah ahead of a potential debut against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Idah has joined the Bhoys on loan until the end of the season after a deadline-day deal with Norwich City.

Some have questioned the signing and whether or not the striker brings what is required to the squad to compete for a starting spot in Rodgers’ side.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton suggested that Idah was not an upgrade on already second-choice forward Hyeongyu Oh.

However, Rodgers insists that the move for Idah has had some thought put into it and has compared him to a former Bhoys favourite.

Brendan Rodgers compares Adam Idah to Moussa Dembele

The Celtic boss said [The Herald]: “I’ve had players like this before who people maybe doubt but he’s still young. He’s 22-years of age. But he has genuine quality. If I can unlock that with him… he has everything.

“I remember when Moussa Dembele came up here, the qualities he had. Adam, his goals to game ratio, and having arguably played at a higher level, is arguably greater.

“Moussa went on and had a brilliant career here and I’m hoping Adam can do that as well. Because he’s quick, big, strong and has a nice touch. He just needs some structure to his game and an objective to his game to get him into areas to score goals.

“He’s shown he can do that. His actual conversion of chances ratio is good. But he’s got to get into those areas. Obviously a lot those chances that have been talked about are in the Premier League, which is such a high level. He was an 18-year-old and was in about that.

“He’s 22, six foot two, quick, strong, is a good guy, he’s clever, he’s not daft. And he comes here with a mindset to do well, and hopefully we’ll benefit from that for this period, and let’s see what happens after that.”

The Dembele comparisons seem fanciful at the moment but Rodgers is making it clear that he believes in the player. Based on this, Idah should get plenty of opportunities in a Celtic shirt.

Kyogo Furuhashi is likely to remain in place as the consistent starter but Idah will be a second-half option as early as this afternoon at Pittodrie.

With Oh still at the Asian Cup, we should see Idah get plenty of minutes over the next couple of weeks. It’s only fair he is judged for what he does in a Celtic shirt, rather than for what his signing says about the club’s recruitment policy.