Breaking News: ‘ABSOLUTELY BULLIED THEM’: HOW IDAH… SUTTON FEARS. Full Story 👇
‘ABSOLUTELY BULLIED THEM’: HOW IDAH… SUTTON FEARS. Full Story 👇
Former Celtic star Chris Sutton has admitted he had initial doubts about Adam Idah when the forward joined the Scottish champions on loan from Norwich City last season. The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international made an immediate impact after arriving at Celtic Park on the January transfer deadline, with a string of impressive performances that culminated in a memorable Scottish Cup-winning goal against Rangers on May 25.
Idah’s contributions were pivotal during his loan spell, scoring nine goals in 19 appearances. His late strike in the Scottish Cup final, securing a gritty win over Philippe Clement’s Rangers side at Hampden, was a testament to his growing influence. Celtic fans, impressed by his performances, were vocal about their desire to see Idah return to Glasgow permanently. Their wish was granted when Idah signed a five-year contract, making him Celtic’s most expensive signing at £9.5 million.
Reflecting on Idah’s journey, Sutton admitted he initially had concerns about the striker’s ability to maximize his physical attributes during his time at Norwich. Sutton noted that while Idah always had decent hold-up play and movement, he often seemed to lack the physical dominance that could have made him more effective in the English Championship.
However, Sutton was pleasantly surprised by the significant improvements Idah made under Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. “Adam Idah is clearly happy at Celtic and he feels more at home than he did at Norwich City,” Sutton said. “I was pleasantly surprised by his performances last season, and I could see the improvements in his game that I was calling for when he was with the Canaries.”
Sutton highlighted a key turning point in Idah’s development, pointing to a standout performance against Kilmarnock in a crucial league decider. “Kilmarnock are a big, strong, organized team under Derek McInnes, yet Idah absolutely bullied them,” Sutton remarked. “It was one of the best all-round center-forward performances I’d seen in a long time.”
Sutton also praised Idah’s aerial ability, noting a powerful header against Motherwell as evidence of the striker’s growing prowess. “His hold-up play and movement were always okay, but I felt he made great strides, even in just a few months under Brendan Rodgers, especially in the air,” Sutton added. “There is still scope for him to get better.”
Despite the emergence of Idah as a key figure, Sutton emphasized that the discussion about who should be Celtic’s main striker is less important than ensuring the team has the necessary depth. He acknowledged that Idah’s presence would help alleviate some of the pressure on Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who has been dealing with a shoulder issue.
“There’s a lot of talk about who will be the main striker, but it’s irrelevant to me,” Sutton said. “Idah’s arrival takes some of the strain off Kyogo. We know he’s got an issue with his shoulder, and fans held their breath when he went down at Easter Road last Sunday.”
As Celtic prepare for their opening League Cup match against Hibernian at Parkhead, Kyogo remains a doubt due to his ongoing shoulder problem. Meanwhile, Idah is ready to make his second debut for Celtic, with the anticipation that he will continue his upward trajectory under Rodgers’ guidance. Sutton also suggested that Rodgers might still be in the market for another striker to further strengthen the squad as the season progresses.
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