It was around this time last year, when the winter chill really set in, that Adam Idah caught fire upon his arrival at Celtic.
Met with only a lukewarm reception following his arrival on loan from Norwich in late January, the Irish striker went on to score some vital goals for Celtic over the second half of the season.
Such was his impact for Brendan Rodgers’ side, supporters were clamouring for the club to loosen the purse strings and sign him on a permanent deal in the summer.
They would get their wish. Forking out a fee of around £9million to bring him back to Glasgow on a five-year deal, it was a blockbuster move for Celtic.
The club had paid top dollar for a 23-year-old striker with all the tools and raw attributes to go on and become a roaring success.
Rodgers viewed the signing as a statement of intent — and openly stated that there was no reason why Celtic shouldn’t continue to aim high in the market.
Adam Idah is enduring a mini goal drought and some fans are questioning his contribution
Idah started the weekend win over Ross County but failed to get his name on the scoresheet
Manager Brendan Rodgers claims he is more than satisfied with what Idah brings to the team
Yet, as we approach the 12-month anniversary of Idah’s initial arrival at Celtic, it feels like things have cooled off just slightly.
Given the bumper fee paid to sign him, it feels reasonable to ask whether Idah is really giving Celtic bang for their buck at the present moment.
Without a goal in his last 11 matches, he is in the midst of a mini drought. Despite starting each of the last three league matches, Idah hasn’t scored since late November.
All in all, he has eight goals in 30 games this season. But Rodgers insists he has no concerns about the player’s form.
Given a prolonged run in the team, the Celtic boss insists that Idah’s all-round performances and skillset will begin to shine through.
Adamant that Idah’s contribution won’t be viewed purely in terms of goals, Rodgers referenced the 4-1 win over Ross County last weekend as an example of his ability to spearhead the attack.
‘I thought, again, Adam did well at the weekend, yet he didn’t get his goal,’ said Rodgers, whose side travel to face Dundee tonight.
‘I think some players are better in rhythm and playing. But there are certain positions that you have to produce. That’s the reality of it.
The Irishman is closed down by a trio of Dundee United defenders in the 0-0 draw at Tannadice
‘But I was really pleased with his contribution. I don’t need my striker to score 40 goals a season, I really don’t.
‘If you look at any of my teams, the goals are always spread out. What I need is the players to be intense, to be aggressive. There were some great moments for him at the weekend.
‘Yeah, he didn’t get his goal, but he was there, he made vital contributions, setting up the game for us, allowing other players to attack the space. He’s working very, very hard, Adam.
‘I just think it’s one of those ones, it will drop for him at some point. But if we’re scoring four goals and your striker’s not scoring, then you will take that.’
Asked if he has any concerns about Idah’s lack of goals, and whether it might start to affect the player, Rodgers added: ‘I don’t believe so. I think it’s his own self-pride, you want to score goals.
‘As a striker, that’s why you’re there — to create goals, score goals. But, for me, as long as I’m seeing the work rate and the intensity and the mentality, then I’m really happy with that.
‘The goalscoring burden doesn’t go to one player, it has to go to the whole team. As long as the team are working well, then that makes me happy. And for him, he’s working really well. The goals will come for him.’
The prospect of Idah leading the line for Celtic on a more regular basis is something which could well come into sharper focus over this next fortnight depending on what happens with Kyogo Furuhashi.
Idah and Furuhashi haven’t spent too much time on the field together as a front two
The subject of interest from the MLS over recent weeks, Kyogo scored twice in the victory over Ross County in Dingwall at the weekend.
It has been a relatively subdued season by his own high standards and, with his 30th birthday around the corner next week, there remains a possibility that Celtic might look to cash in.
But, after opting to start the match with Idah and Kyogo in the same system, Rodgers was impressed with what he saw — and may look to play them together more often.
‘With Adam, having that different type of striker is fantastic for us,’ said Rodgers. ‘It’s good to have different options.
‘Like we saw with Kyogo at the weekend, his movement for the first goal is… “wow”. Just the number of runs he makes to make sure he stays onside, the timing, the cleverness and then obviously the finish.
‘So, to have strikers like that who can give you different possibilities is very useful within your squad.’
Asked whether he may deploy them together more often, Rodgers said: ‘May do, may not. It just depends. I normally play with wingers. It’s how I have always sort of worked.
‘But Kyogo, he rolls inside very well and the shape just morphs into a different structure. So yes, it’s something that we can do.
Idah’s presence offers Celtic a different angle of attack when trying to break teams down
‘I think it’s having the flexibility. I’ve never been fixed to one system. I have to one style. The style will always be the same and the principles, but the actual system I’ve always been flexible with how the teams have played.’
With Idah playing up front and Kyogo operating from the left, it’s a partnership which Rodgers may unleash at Dundee tonight with Daizen Maeda still nursing a knock.
Celtic will look to extend their 15-point lead at the top of the table, with the second half of the season already looking like a procession.
They will face a Dundee side who drew with Rangers in their last outing, with Tony Docherty’s side once again looking well-poised to challenge for another top-six finish.
‘It’s always going to be a difficult game when you go there,’ said Rodgers. ‘Probably not too dissimilar to our game at the weekend, where I think Tony’s team will be tight and compact and low on the pitch.
‘You have to then get to work to break them down. If you can do it early, great. If not, then you have to keep the patience. And it may come like it did at the weekend, late on.
‘Tony’s done an outstanding job since he’s been in there, brought in some really good players. They all work, and you can see they all play for him. And obviously, they are only a few points off that top six.
‘Last time out against Rangers, they produced a good result. So we know that we will have to really fight for the result.’
