ADAM IDAH is revelling in the trust from manager Brendan Rodgers as he focuses on scoring the goals that will help take the title back to the east end of Glasgow for the third successive season.
The champions face six crucial games as they bid fo their twelfth championship in 13 years and the countdown to another crowning glory continues against St Mirren at Parkhead tomorrow afternoon.
Idah boosted his chances of a place in the starting line-up after his superb strike at Ibrox last weekend that put the visitors into a 3-2 lead in the 87th minute.
Unfortunately, a lapse in defence allowed Philippe Clement’s team a stoppage-time equaliser, but Rodgers’ men can go four points ahead by 5pm tomorrow with the Govan club in action the following day with their noon kick-off against Ross County in Dingwall.
DOUBLE TAKE…Cameron Carter-Vickers races to congratulate Adam Idah after the striker’s goal in the 3-3 draw at Ibrox.
Idah, who has claimed six strikes in as many starts since joining his boyhood idols on a short-term loan from Norwich City in January, said: “I’m really enjoying playing up here and it’s probably the most confident I’ve ever been.
“People can probably tell that when I’m on the pitch. It’s the best I’ve played and you can tell by the goals, so, in terms of performance, it really does help me.”
Asked if his goal at Ibrox when his whiplash drive eluded keeper Jack Butland at his left was the most important of his career so far, the Republic of International answered: “Possibly, who knows? Obviously, it was an amazing feeling.
“To get a goal in that derby is crazy when you’re a player who wants to play for Celtic. It’s massive. So, who knows? At the end of the season we’ll see.”
By a strange quirk, Idah has scored only one of his six goals at Parkhead and that came with a deft header in the 7-1 romp against Dundee in February.
The 23-year-old attack-leader hopes to add to that solitary counter against the Paisley club and, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “The manager has a lot of trust in me, the lads have got used to me and know my style of football.
PARADISE…Adam Idah celebrates his only goal at Parkhead to date – a clever header in the 7-1 rout of Dundee in February.
“I think when people have that trust in you and you can get minutes. Once that first goal comes, you do become confident in yourself, and I think it helps so much.
“Having the fans at your back is huge, especially for me that helped me a lot, and it motivates me more to try and do better.”
Idah may have to be patient and start on the substitutes’ bench again tomorrow with Kyogo Furuhashi getting the nod at the kick-off, but that will not faze the powerfully-built youngster.
He added: “We’ve got a great squad here, so regardless if I start or I’m on the bench, even if I don’t come on, I’ll try and help the team as much as I can.
“Scoring some goals, and important goals has been really good.
“For me, especially at this period of the season, I don’t think it matters who plays or who does what, getting together as a team and contributing to goals is the main thing.”
