Adam Idah -Time to shine.

Goals are self-perpetuating for strikers, a one-yard tap-in one minute can lead to nonchalantly rounding the keeper and slotting home, the next. A glancing header the following week and they’re off, chasing down personal targets, top scorer awards, records even. They bring confidence, renewed energy, and in turn, more goals. Goals ultimately sustain strikers. Critique of a forward’s all-round game, or suitability can swiftly be quashed, by pointing to a favourable scoring record.

After important goals at Fir Park, Easter Road, and Ibrox, Adam Idah signed off his first spell at Celtic, with a late cup final winner against Rangers, to secure the double. As cameos go, it’s a fairly compelling argument for any player. Having initially signed on loan, the Irishman’s transfer was made permanent for £9.5 million last August and has been much discussed since. Give or take a couple of days, he has now been at the club a year. 

All in all, he has 20 goals in 53 appearances. Not a bad return, considering he’s played second fiddle, most of the time. Recently though, nothing has gone his way and although he was finally getting an extended run in the side, it had been a barren winter for Idah. A lack of goals but also a lack of belief, fitness and touch, have left him looking sluggish and of little use. This happens to strikers but Idah, in all fairness, could have been more industrious at times. The good news is, his past two games as a Celtic player, have been his best. 

Idah’s performances - in this past week -have been extremely encouraging and far more polished than we have seen previously. His touch is tighter and passes tidier but he is also working harder, using his pace and size to be disruptive. In general, determined and sharper, he is now starting to occupy defences. He also grew more expressive as Sunday’s game progressed. A long-range effort, off the post and a neat reverse ball to Kuhn, are examples of his lesser-spotted creativity. Most importantly, he got on the scoresheet again. 

The style of the 3 goals - between the posts, 6/8 yards out - will please Rodgers, who has hinted at the need for him, to to refine his positioning. The Celtic manager also touched on, the need for patience and tempering of expectations despite the fee. “I think that over, the next two to three years, he can really flourish and show the quality he has.” 

Coinciding with the departure of Kyogo Furahashi, the Irishman is starting to turn it up. A career-high performance and two smart goals against Aston Villa, followed by another at Fir Park on Sunday, have flipped the script and suddenly, things are looking up for Idah. Goals will do that. That’s 11 in total now and with more game time to come, he should be hunting down 20 for the season.  

Dundee(H) tonight is where to start.