FORMER Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton admitted he had fears over £9.5million new Bhoy Adam Idah last season.
The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland arrived at the champions on January deadline day on loan from Norwich City until the end of the season.
Idah fired in nine goals in 19 appearances and signed off his temporary transfer in fairly spectacular style with the Scottish Cup winner in the fading moments of a gritty tussle against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side at Hampden on May 25.
The Hoops fans clamoured for a return to Glasgow for the Cork-born attack-leader and they got their wish when the player signed a five-year contract in a deal that will make him the club’s most expensive purchase.
PRIZE GUYS…Adam Idah and Callum McGregor celebrate the striker’s opening goal in the 5-0 title-winning romp against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on May 15.
Sutton said: “Adam Idah is clearly happy at Celtic and he feels more at home than he did at Norwich City. I was pleasantly surprised by his performances last season and I could see the improvements in his game that I was calling for when he was with the Canaries.
“I had concerns about him not using his physical attributes – but he came up with the answers.
“It was telling he started the decider down at Kilmarnock last term and it was one of the best all-round centre-forward performances I’d seen in a long time.
“Kilmarnock are a big, strong, organised team under Derek McInnes. Yet Idah absolutely bullied them.
“His hold-up play and movement was always okay, but I felt he made great strides, even in just a few months under Brendan Rodgers, especially in the air.
“Look at his thumping header at Motherwell. It’s another part of his game he has improved and will keep improving under Rodgers because there is still scope to get better.”
GREEN FOR GO…Adam Idah is at the centre of Celtic’s title celebrations at Rugby Park.
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “There’s a lot of talk about who will be the main striker, but it’s irrelevant to me.
“It will be horses for courses each week and Idah’s arrival takes some of the strain off Kyogo Furuhashi. We know he’s got an issue with his shoulder and fans held their breath when he went down at Easter Road last Sunday and it seems he’s struggling a bit for tomorrow.
“I still think Rodgers needs one more striker in the building, but, at least, there’s no longer the same apprehension around Kyogo.”
The Japanese international hitman is a doubt for the opening League Cup encounter against Hibs at Parkhead tomorrow after being forced off in the 74th minute in the 2-0 Premiership win over the same opponents last weekend.
Idah is standing by the make his second debut in Paradise.
