‘Idah could get 30 goals but Celtic need another striker’
Parkhead hero Hartson impressed with Irishman but feels he needs back-up
DAIZEN Maeda was the standout forward of last season for Celtic as he stepped up to the plate to replace compatriot Kyogo
Furuhashi.
The Japanese attacker scored 33 goals in all competitions, helping Celtic claim the league and Scottish League Cup double.
Now, Adam Idah has his eye on making a similar impact in the 2025/26 season.
The Republic of Ireland international forward Idah weighed in with 20 goals of his own last term despite being on the field for a total of 2,041 minutes.
Earlier this week, the £9.5 million signing from Norwich City last summer insisted that he was the man to lead the line for Brendan Rodgers and that he could hit 30 goals given the chance.
Speaking from Celtic’s Portuguese training camp, Idah said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. I said it last season. The more minutes I play, the more goals I’m going to score, and it’s a fact. I scored 20 goals with the minutes I’ve played, which is really good.
“So I’m sure the more minutes I play, I’ll score more goals, and I’m confident enough in myself that I can get to that. It’s only a benchmark, so hopefully I can do it next season.
“I’ve scored in a lot of big games, but now I want to kick forward and score in every other game. The big games are great to score in, but I want to be consistent now, and I think that’s the big learning for me.
“I want to be the striker that plays every game and scores every game, every second game. It’s not about just the one big game, you want to do it consistently, and I think that’s where the biggest players are the best.”
Rodgers is still active in the transfer market and is keen to bolster his attacking options. Idah is up and running in pre-season with a goal against Estrela da Amadora, but missed a gilt-edged chance versus Sporting CP on Wednesday night.
Former Celtic striker John Hartson is a huge admirer of Idah, and he agrees that the Irishman could breach the 30-goal mark if he plays for the majority of the season.
However, Hartson reckons it’s imperative that Celtic sign another attacker if they are to be fiercely competitive on all four fronts.
The Welshman said: “As statements go, it is a bold one from Adam Idah as I think Celtic need another striker to be added to their ranks.
“Celtic cannot afford to rest on their laurels, and adding quality keeps players on their toes. They will start the season in four competitions. The team needs to strengthen every year, especially if they want to progress and have another good run like they did last season in the Champions League
“Jota is out and the club have sold Nicolas Kuhn, so that is a lot of goals and assists that you are taking out of the Celtic team for a start.
“If Idah gets the game time, he could score 30 goals a season, as he has shown that he can do it at this level and in the Champions League.
Any Celtic striker on any given season has to score 20-plus goals given the chances the team creates
“Any Celtic striker on any given season has to score 20-plus goals given the number of chances the team creates, but if Idah could hit 30, then that would be deemed an exceptional season by anybody’s standards. I hit 30 goals a season once for Celtic, and my other totals were 25, 24 and 20. It is a tall order, even playing for Celtic.
“My main concern for Idah would be getting enough playing time this season. I was a bit like him as I wanted to play in every game, but in the world that we live in now and in these heady days of rest and recovery and sports science, it is rare for any footballer to participate in every match because coaches want to protect them from burnout.
“Rodgers has a real decision on his hands here as Maeda was a revelation last season, and because of that, he may well be the preferred starting striker over Idah. Maeda’s numbers were incredible in terms of goals and assists. A lot of Celtic supporters might prefer to see Maeda remain as the starting centre-forward in place of Idah.”
Whilst Idah has always enjoyed the backing of Hartson, he fully understands why some of the Celtic supporters’ jury remains out. For starters, Hartson reckons that the player’s all-round game could be better. However, Hartson highlighted other areas where Idah has excelled.
The 50-year-old said: “There are bits in Idah’s game that need improving, like his hold-up play. I feel Idah needs to learn to hold onto the ball longer and bring other players into the game, and not be too quick to get rid of it.
“He has to sometimes realise that he has more time than he thinks, particularly on the edge of the box. He could also work on the way he backs into players in order to bring others into the play.
“I will praise Idah’s other attributes, as he possesses a lot of good traits, such as his work rate and his finishing, and he knows how to time his runs in behind. He works hard for the team, and he closes defenders down.
“Idah has also shown his talents when he has come up with big goals against Rangers domestically as well as against Aston Villa and Young Boys in the Champions League. His brace against Aston Villa at Villa Park was sensational as he almost single-handedly dragged Celtic back into the match that night.
“It is those kinds of performances that will have convinced Rodgers to persevere with Idah and that he can score goals for Celtic. That’s why the Celtic supporters should not have too many concerns about Idah, as strikers are judged more harshly than any other outfield player.
“After all, it is strikers who win games, it is centre-forwards who also help clubs win silverware, and they are a major reason why clubs like Celtic are continuously successful. That is why they tend to cost top dollar.
“The Celtic supporters should also be comforted by the fact that Idah is already thinking about scoring a big total this season, as that proves there is no shortage of confidence on his part.
“He has to back his words up and justify the statement that he has made about being the main man for Celtic. The key to Idah achieving his target lies in how much game time Rodgers is prepared to give him this season.”
The pathway to 30 goals won’t be straightforward. Idah’s confidence is clear, but turning that into reliability at a club like Celtic demands more than belief. It requires week-to-week impact in all competitions.
Before lofty landmarks, the Irishman has to prove he can impact matches as a starter consistently. The first man he needs to convince is Rodgers, who has given him more opportunities as a substitute to date.