Adam Idah needs competition to thrive, says Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers claims Adam Idah will be better if he can get some competition up front.

The champions eased to a 2-0 win at Aberdeen thanks to goals in either half from midfielders Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate, but Idah struggled to make an impact in the centre-forward position.

The 24-year-old was expected to kick on after Kyogo Furuhashi left in January, but Daizen Maeda took on the mantle of Celtic’s main goalscorer after moving inside from a wide position, although the Irishman still finished on 20 goals.

Given Celtic have since lost Jota to a long-term injury and sold Nicolas Kuhn, Maeda has been needed out wide, while Idah has been handed a chance to seize the number-nine role.

“There’s no doubt that we need to reinforce the top line,” Rodgers said. “There’s no doubt.

“I’m really pleased with where we are structurally in defensive numbers. We’ve got a squad from our back line to midfield that can cope domestically and cope in the European competition. So I’m really pleased with that aspect.

“But I think we need competition at the top end of the field.

“For Adam, he’s a big, honest boy. He was at his best here when was really challenging with Kyogo for the position and that’s something that is important for us to get. But in the meantime, he will work hard and he’ll always be that reference for us.”

Asked if Idah needs a goal, Rodgers said: “Listen, you’re a striker at Celtic, you have to be strong mentally, you’ve got to score goals, of course. But I’ve a lot of faith in him.

“He really needs that real competition beside him. And I think that’s when you then get the most out of him.

“He didn’t quite score, but he worked very hard and he’s given his all and it will get better as the season goes on.”

Celtic’s three goals this season have all come from midfielders, with Luke McCowan’s late winner against St Mirren followed by Nygren getting off the mark for the club.

The 24-year-old netted 15 goals for Nordsjaelland in the Danish top flight last season as well as scoring twice in his first four internationals for Sweden.

Rodgers said: “He’s a player that can play as an eight, a 10, he can also play off the side. But his intuition is to get in the box and score goals and that’s why we’ve brought him in.”

Rodgers added: “Any time you come to Pittdorie, it’s always tough games. To come and play with that authority and personality in the game, that was pleasing.”

Aberdeen made a bright start, but Celtic took full control before Nygren’s 27th-minute opener.

Dons manager Jimmy Thelin said: “The way we defended in the first half and how we created the transitions was okay.

“The problem we have right now is the last pass and last decision when we arrive in an attacking position. And we are not arriving there enough to really hurt them.”

Thelin would not comment on reports that Aberdeen are closing in on a deal to sign 21-year-old AC Milan striker Marko Lazetic on a free transfer.

But he added: “Everybody’s working really hard to find the right player and bring him to Aberdeen so let’s see what’s going to happen.”