Celtic have struggled with scoring penalties this campaign under Brendan Rodgers; however, he may finally have his answer to that problem.
Deadline day signing Adam Idah started for the first time against Hibernian last night since joining from Norwich City on a loan deal for the remainder of the campaign.
Following an impressive cameo at the weekend at Pittodrie that yielded an assist, the 22-year-old was once again pivotal for the Bhoys at Easter Road, scoring twice from the spot to secure a dramatic victory for his side.
His general performance as a lone forward will rightly be lauded. As per Fotmob, Idah earned an average match rating of 8.8/10 for his display, alongside recording a shot accuracy rate of 75%.
Kyogo Furuhashi hasn’t been in flying form for Celtic of late, and the emergence of an alternative option in the forward areas has helped to alleviate some pressure from the Japan international’s shoulders.
On Sunday, St Mirren await Rodgers’ men in the Scottish Cup as they continue their defence of the trophy following a 5-0 triumph in the previous round at home to Buckie Thistle.
Brendan Rodgers explains why Adam Idah is on Celtic penalties
Despite being new to his surroundings, Rodgers had no problem placing the burden of penalty-taking duties on Idah’s head at Easter Road.
The Irishman has praised the Cork-born forward’s composure during proceedings and has since explained why he elected to offer him the opportunity.
He stated [BBC Sport]: “He showed great composure. He’s scored penalties at the very highest level. That’s why we put him on them. Great night for him.”
Becoming the night’s hero, Idah has also commented on his match-winning actions, saying: “It was an amazing feeling to score in the 90th minute, and to get three points topped it all off.”
Celtic need to improve their performances in the coming weeks
Winning is the be-all and end-all at Celtic, though there is a wider acknowledgement among supporters that performances need to improve.
In their last three league matches, the Hoops’ four strikes have come either from heavily deflected efforts or penalty kicks as Rodgers’ side continue to fall flat on the creative front.
Looking ahead, there has to be a firmer emphasis on figuring out how to regularly cut through low-block defences if the title is to arrive at Parkhead in May.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
