Brendan Rodgers has a big call to make on Adam Idah ahead of Celtic’s Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich.
Celtic are trailing Bayern Munich 2-1 ahead of the second leg on Tuesday night and Idah will be hoping to keep his place in the XI.
Idah started the first leg at Celtic Park and Brendan Rodgers opted to keep him in the side for the win over Dundee United where he scored a belting goal.
Post the January transfer window, there was a lot of talk about why Celtic didn’t bring in another striker following Kyogo Furuhashi’s exit.
You expect that striker to come in during the summer because Idah is going to need help and competition because he is the only senior striker on Celtic’s books right now.
But, since Kyogo’s exit, Idah can’t stop scoring and he has found a new lease of life in front of goal.
READ MORE: 3 burning Celtic questions for Bayern Munich Champions League reverse after Dundee United canter
Celtic told fans aren’t talking about Adam Idah’s price tag
Idah impressed many when he came on loan last season and it was a key reason why Celtic signed him up for £9 million from Norwich City in the summer.
But, there were periods this season, when the Republic of Ireland international was struggling and that transfer fee was being mentioned.
Yet, fast forward to the present and since Kyogo departed, Tam McManus explained how ‘fans aren’t talking about’ that transfer fee because his goals are doing the talking, as he told PLZ Soccer.
“Yeah, it was (Idah’s goal was a belter against Dundee United),” said McManus. “He was just about to come off. The boy Kenny was just about to come on.
“I think Idah had five or six attempts at goal. It looked like it was just one of those days for him. But he takes a touch and it’s a fantastic finish technique. The ball has just bounced in front of him and he put it into the back of the top corner.
“Again, those two goals against Aston Villa in the Champions League have transformed him. He looks like a different player now. He looks sharper. He is scoring goals now.
“All of a sudden, that £9 million price tag, the Celtic fans aren’t talking about it now. There was a period when they were going, ‘why have we paid £9 million for him?’ But, as long as he keeps scoring goals, then they will keep those dissenters quiet.”
Idah’s stats since Kyogo Furuhashi left Celtic
What has helped Idah is that he knows he will start every week now because he doesn’t have the Kyogo shadow lurking over him.
It was always going to be hard for the Irishman to dethrone a man of Kyogo’s calibre from the starting XI but without him, he is showing the world what he is capable of.
| Adam Idah since Kyogo’s exit | Games | Goals |
| 6 | 5 |
But now, fans are hoping that Idah can help Celtic cause a huge upset against Bayern Munich, whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Either way, Celtic’s leading striker is playing with confidence and has nothing to lose.
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