'Confident' Adam Idah loving life at Celtic as he looks to end season on a high

Celtic striker Adam Idah revealed he is now playing with more confidence and self-belief that at any point in his career as he looks to end the season on a high.

Since joining the Scottish champions on loan in January the Republic of Ireland international has scored some vital goals to boost the Hoops’ title challenge including his strike last weekend in the 3-3 draw at Ibrox and late match winning doubles against Hibs and Motherwell.

The 23-year-old striker has scored six goals in 11 appearances, five of which were off the bench, since the deadline-day move from Norwich.

If added to his seven or the Canaries, plus two for his country, in the first half of the season, it has been his best goal-scoring season to date with 15 in all competitions.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premiership clash with St Mirren, he said: “It obviously helps any player scoring a goal, especially with confidence.

“I am really enjoying playing up here. It’s probably the most confident I have ever been. People can probably tell that when I am on the pitch and around the place, it’s probably the best I have played and you can tell by the goals.

“I have got a lot more minutes, the manager has a lot of trust in me, the lads got used to me and know my style of football.

“When people have that trust in you, and when that first goal comes, you do become confident in yourself. Even little things, like having the fans behind you, is huge. That helped me a lot and motivates me more to try and do better.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers enthused over the chance to work with Idah and develop his game following his loan move, and the powerful forward is reaping the benefits.

“There’s a lot of things that he does with me and the other attacking players in training that you can see I have brought into my game,” he said.

“He has helped me massively. When I first came in there were things we spoke about that he thought he could help me improve. Week by week I am doing that and I will try and repay him as much as the faith he has put in me. I think it’s been a really good connection.”

Idah expanded on the difference he has felt in himself since his move.

“Being that confident player is huge,” the Cork native said. “When I was back at Norwich, I wasn’t confident, I wasn’t getting minutes. It’s a difficult place to be in when you are not doing so well.

“I don’t think you feel like you are going to miss every chance, it’s more that if you do miss a chance, you think the world is ending, you feel everyone is on your back, you probably hear bad things more than you would if you were confident.

“It’s a difficult place to be but there is always a way out and, thankfully for me, coming up here has been great for me.

“So to come here and have everyone behind me, the staff, the fans, has been great for me. I am loving it.”

Rodgers is also enjoying having Idah in his squad and a permanent move could be a possibility in the summer, but neither were looking far ahead as Celtic go for glory in the league and Scottish Cup.

Idah said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen yet. I haven’t thought about what’s next for me. I am enjoying my football now, I will try and finish the season on a high and who knows? We will see.”