‘I want to repay Celtic, I’ve been made to feel so welcome here’

As Celtic supporters fret over if and how the club’s board can deliver the big end to the transfer window that might lessen the likelihood of further European embarrassment this season, for one summer arrival, the draw of Champions League football was key to his decision to rejoin on a permanent basis.
Adam Idah, the striker who enjoyed such a successful loan spell in the second half of last season, eventually put pen to paper on a move from Norwich City that cost the Glasgow club an initial £8.5 million — the 23-year-old coming off the bench in last week’s Premier Sports Cup win over Hibernian to a rapturous reception from the Celtic Park crowd. The Republic of Ireland international says he can’t wait to sample the place on a Champions League night, having previously been transfixed by the atmosphere that comes across loud and clear even on television.
“Everyone here is excited to play in the Champions League,” Idah acknowledged. “Especially so, in my case, because it will be a new experience for me. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the Champions League. To have this opportunity now is unbelievable. Everyone speaks about the atmosphere you get at Celtic Park on all these big European nights. I have watched them with family and friends from since I was young.
“I was a bit young to really appreciate the win over Barcelona [in 2012] but if you are asking about any more recent ones that stick in the memory, the 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park last year was a good one.
“The visit of Real Madrid the year before was a huge occasion too. One of those big games where you get together with family and friends to enjoy. There was a big group of us for that one. But to experience them as a player from the inside will be a whole new thing for me.
“I am dying to play in one of the games. I cannot wait for them to come around.”
The draw for the newly redesigned league phase of Europe’s premier club competition takes place in Monaco on Thursday afternoon. Instead of the previous four-team groups, all 36 clubs will feature in a single table, with each side playing eight others — four at home and four away. The top eight will progress to a round of 16, with clubs ranked ninth to 24th taking part in a knock-out play- off round to determine the other participants.
“The draw is coming up now and it is exciting,” Idah said. “That will build up with each passing day until we see who we have got. I think any team we get will be tough. It is one of the biggest competitions there is in football, and I am sure any team we have to play will be of a very high standard.”
It had been a tricky few months for Idah, who never made any secret of his desire to come back north of the border but risked being frozen out by Norwich after he failed to report on time for a flight to the club’s pre-season trip to Austria.
Despite the frustration and uncertainty he experienced, he believes he is in the right place, both physically and mentally, to hit the ground running — starting with the Premiership trip to St Mirren this lunchtime.
“I feel good,” he insisted. “There has been a lot said that I have not done much in pre-season, but I did. I was training every day when I was back at Norwich and although I did not play many minutes there, I was training hard every day.
“So I think I have come into Celtic in good shape, and I feel quite sharp. I feel good now. Obviously, I came in wanting to play games — that is the main aim for me. To get as sharp as I can and score some goals.”
The Cork native has had to become accustomed to a new level of attention, particularly in the wake of his last-minute winning goal against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final. Such feats tend to get a man noticed down by the River Lee.
Describing how his phone had been lighting up like a Christmas tree since the permanent deal was struck, Idah said: “It was unbelievable and the reception I’ve got from the fans was something I never thought would happen. It was great — it really was.
“The reception at the weekend there in the cup tie against Hibs was unreal. It makes me feel so welcome here and I want to do as much as I can to repay that.”
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