EAGER Adam Idah reckons he can contribute at least 30 goals for Celtic in the new season – if he gets the chance.
The Republic of Ireland international frontman claimed 20 strikes last time out and admits “I thought I had a good season.”
But the powerhouse attack-leader, who arrived on a permanent £9.5million switch from Norwich City in August last year following his impressive short-term loan stint, adds: “Of course, there can be a lot to improve on.”
Idah and Daizen Maeda were the champions’ main men in the firing line after Kyogo Furuhashi joined French outfit Rennes in a £10million deal in January.
PRIZE GUYS…Adam Idah is about to be congratulated by Daizen Maeda after netting one of his double in the Champions League encounter against Aston Villa in the Midlands.
Both answered the call with the Japanese speedster hitting 33 goals in a prolific campaign that saw him win an assortment of Player of the Year honours for his striking deeds.
Brendan Rodgers is likely to seal the £1.5million arrival of Maeda’s countryman Shin Yamada this week with the player due to fly in after his participation in his nation’s squad for the international against South Korea tomorrow.
Idah, though, is pushing his claim to lead the champions and insists the 30-goal mark is a possibility.
The 24-year-old Cork-born raider said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. The more minutes I play, the more goals I’m going to score. It’s a fact.
“I scored 20 goals with the minutes I played, which is really good. I’m confident enough in myself that I can get to that.
“It’s only a benchmark, so, hopefully, I can do it next season.”
DERBY DELIGHT…Adam Idah celebrates his strike in the 1-1 stalemate at Ibrox in May.
Rodgers is continuing to look at strengthening the entire squad after seeing Nicolas Kuhn depart for Como in a £17.2million switch, centre-backs Gustaf Lagerbielke agree a £2million move to SC Braga and Maik Nawrocki sign a season-long loan at German second-tier club Hannover 96 while Greg Taylor has shifted to PAOK on a free.
Idah, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Look, the manager’s obviously right. We’ve lost two big players (Kyogo and Kuhn) who have contributed loads to the squad.
“Hopefully, we can bring in some others who can help us out.
“Last season, we had Daizen obviously doing well and myself scoring, so we all did our part.
“The guys have left, let’s hope we can bring some guys and go again next season.
“At the end of the day, we’re a team and we want to win games, competitions and trophies and we need the best players we can to do that.
“Regardless who we sign, the whole team will be happy and they’ll add a really positive quality to the team.”
CROWNING GLORY…Adam Idah is all smiles as he holds the newly-won Premiership silverware.
Idah, who netted in the Hoops’ 3-2 loss to Estrela da Amadora in the closed-doors encounter in the Portuguese capital on Saturday, added: “I’ve scored in a lot of big games, but now I want to kick forward and score in every other game.
“I want to be the striker who plays every game and scores every game or every second game.
“I thought it was a really good season last time. Obviously, the end didn’t go our way, but personally I thought I had a good season.
“Of course, there can be a lot to improve on.
“But I think from my first full season at Celtic, it’s been really good to return 20 goals.
“Scoring in the Champions League and all sorts is a really good stuff for me, so I’m really looking forward to next season.
“There were a lot of things that I learned which I hope I can bring into this season, so I’m really looking forward to going into the new one now.”
Idah is likely to be involved when Rodgers’ men take on Sporting Lisbon in The Algarve tomorrow night.
