Norwich City transfers: Adam Idah's Celtic loan assessed

It's safe to say that Idah's signing wasn't greeted with universal approval by Celtic fans, but how much has he turned those perceptions around?

I think there's been a lot of humble pie eaten north of the border after the second half of the season. A lot of people were a bit underwhelmed when Adam Idah's name was mentioned, maybe just due to looking at his goal record and where he was in the pecking order at Norwich. He was the third choice at Norwich, with Ashley Barnes and Josh Sargent ahead of him in January.

I was trying to figure out what was going wrong for him, because he's an Irish international with Premier League experience, and he's not getting game time for Norwich. My goodness, what an impression he's made in the time he's been at the club.

A lot of fans were a bit unimpressed with what it looked like optics-wise, but when he got onto that pitch he almost single-handedly won Celtic the double. He scored the goal to win the cup final, which has further endeared him to the supporters.

The Irishman developed a knack for big goals during the loan (Image: PA)

What do you think has changed for him? Why was he so successful there after struggling at Norwich?

Brendan Rodgers is the main factor. He knows him from managing against his teams when he was playing for Norwich and Rodgers was at Leicester City. He's obviously kept an eye on him and it's felt like a perfect coming together of the two.

Rodgers was waxing lyrical about him when he came through the door, because there were a lot of people who needed convincing. But if this was an audition process then he's passed with flying colours, because he's really been exceptional.

Brendan Rodgers (left) was a key part of Idah's success north of the border (Image: PA)

A change of scenery has really, really helped him as well. He struggled with confidence at Norwich, but he hasn't looked like a player who's short on confidence when he's played for Celtic. When he comes onto the park you can see he's willing himself to get goals and assists and be a pest up front.

Celtic are experiencing that too with Mikey Johnstone, who's gone down on loan to West Brom. We've always know that there's a player there, like a lot of Norwich supporters will say about Idah, he's had moments.

But for the first time in his career he's put together six or seven good performances in a short space of time. It just goes to show how important a change of scenery can be.

Idah hasn't made the most of his potential at Carrow Road (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

What's the feeling around Celtic on whether he'll return?

I think the feeling is that a deal can happen, it's whether or not Celtic want to pay the fee that Norwich are asking for. I think they can spend that money, they'll get a lot of riches from being in the Champions League.

They need a striker, because it looks as if Oh Hyeon-gyu will leave the club and there are still question marks over the long-term future of Kyogo Furuhashi. At 23, Adam Idah still has loads and loads of years, he's still essentially a baby when it comes to striking.

The Hoops may need to sign a striker this summer (Image: PA)

Taking the biased point of view out of it, I think it would be a good move for him as well. He seems to have really settled, he scores goal, maybe he suits the league a bit better with a bit more physicality in the Scottish league.

All good reports from up north, I think we're all hoping that he can sign on a permanent deal. But I guess it's more of a 'watch this space' at the moment, rather than hoping. I know that Norwich have got a new manager and he'll want to assess his squad, but you'd hope maybe that a deal can be done between the two sides.