Junior Adamu won’t play for Celtic again.
But that doesn’t mean the loan signing from January hasn’t played his part in Celtic’s trophy success this season.
The last time Adamu featured for Celtic was the defeat away at Dundee United in March. Since then, Martin O’Neill has continually left him out of the matchday squad.
But that doesn’t mean O’Neill didn’t give Adamu his flowers for his key contribution in Celtic winning the Scottish Cup on Saturday afternoon at Hampden.
“Considering as well that Junior (Adamu) scored a goal for us in the last seconds of the game against Dundee to take it into extra-time,” said O’Neill.
“Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been here, so a lot of those things. But I am delighted to be here for a start, and of course, delighted to win.”
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Martin O’Neill namechecks Junior Adamu after Celtic win the Scottish Cup
Adamu’s debut started with a bang. His goal off the bench against Dundee sent that tie into extra time, before Celtic sealed the win.
Yes, Adamu hardly featured after that, and his signings have epitomised what has gone wrong with Celtic’s transfer business this season.
But still, even during the ugliness, he was able to produce a golden moment that allowed the Hoops to go along their way and add another trophy to the cabinet.
That’s why O’Neill mentioned the versatile forward to BBC One after Celtic beat Dunfermline Athletic.
“I am almost saying I am enjoying life (while being out of management), but I wasn’t really,” admitted O’Neill.
“You always feel as if you are on the periphery of things, then suddenly, you are thrown into the middle of it. You get a perverse enjoyment from it if you actually win. That’s the most important thing for the football club: winning, and we had to try and win.
“After we lost against Dundee United, I thought it was a long, long away.
“Considering as well that Junior (Adamu) scored a goal for us in the last seconds of the game against Dundee to take it into extra-time.
“Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been here, so a lot of those things. But I am delighted to be here for a start, and of course, delighted to win.”
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