ADAM IDAH is living the dream since his £9.5million return to Celtic was sealed this week.
Brendan Rodgers had marked him as a priority signing and, following over two months of negotiating with Norwich City, the Republic of Ireland international is back at the champions after his short-term loan last season.
Idah fired in nine goals in 19 appearances as the Hoops surged to a dramatic league and Cup double.
It was the 6ft-plus powerhouse who banged in the opening strike as Rodgers’ men routed Kilmarnock 5-0 at Rugby Park on May 15 to cement the club’s third successive title.
And it was Idah who thumped in the Scottish Cup winner against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox also-rans at Hampden on the iconic date of May 25.
And the Cork-born forward beams as he admits he enjoys being a screen star.
CHEERS…Adam Idah celebrates with the Celtic fans as crestfallen Jack Butland can only look on as the Scottish Cup heads back to Parkhead for a record 42nd time.
Reflecting on the moment he displayed lightning reflexes to pounce on a rebound from keeper Jack Butland in the 90th minute of a tense encounter, Idah said: “How many times did I watch that goal back? I can’t even count now.
“I was constantly watching it. It’s the same feeling the whole time – getting goosebumps.
“I think everyone’s so proud of me. Back home, they’ve never seen me smile so much as when I’ve been at Celtic. I think everyone’s delighted for me and they just want me to go and enjoy football again.
“You just feel free here. I know people say there’s a lot of pressure and, of course, there is pressure, but I don’t really feel it.
“The reception I got from the fans is amazing. I’ve never experienced anything like that and it motivates me more to score more goals.
“The connection I have with the club, not just the players and the staff, but the fans make a big difference. I probably didn’t have the best treatment at Norwich with the fans, I didn’t have that connection, and it does make a difference.”
Idah’s mother Fiona, now a massive Hoops fan, says she’s never seen her son happier since he penned a five-year deal to return to Paradise.
The 23-year-old strapping attack-leader, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Mum’s so proud of me, buzzing. She’s desperate to get over for the games now, so she’s loving life.
LAUGHING BHOYS…Adam Idah enjoys the ticker-tape reception along with Joe Hart, Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor after the Scottish Cup success at Hampden.
“She came to quite a few games and obviously she came over for the Cup Final, so that was a big one for her. She says it herself – she’s never seen me as happy playing football as when I came here, so she’s delighted.”
Idah is now getting to grips with the worldwide appeal of the club he has just joined.
He said: “The craziest one was when I was in LA and there was a group of Celtic fans down on the boulevard. I was a bit shocked with that.
“Eight o’clock in the morning and there’s Celtic fans everywhere. It was a bit of a new thing to get used to because you haven’t really been identified like that in a place like that. It’s a strange one.
“Even going back home, obviously everyone knows me back home.
“But now that I’ve been at Celtic, it’s like I’m a new man when I go home, which is pretty strange. But it’s been fantastic. I say it all the time, the fans here have been amazing to me.
“The reaction I got, the welcome, has been top class. It’s time for me to repay that now.”
MAKING A SONG AND DANCE ABOUT IT…Adam Idah takes centre stage after his two penalty-kicks give Celtic a 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road in February.
Looking forward to the opportunity of mixing with the game’s superstars in the Champions League, Idah added: “Tuesday nights, having a couple of boys around, chilling and watching the games.
“I was saying to my cousin, it’s actually crazy now that I might get to experience that.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s a massive step in my career and a big, big challenge. It’s the elite of football, everyone wants to be in it.
“It does excite you. You think of the teams that are in it, you can come up against the best teams in the world. I don’t know what player doesn’t want to play against the best teams in the world and go up against them.
“Like I said, this club is huge. I feel like we have the support and the qualities in the changing room to go up against everyone.
“That’s the mentality that we should have. Everyone’s buzzing. Even when I came in this morning, everyone’s dying for it to get started.”
Idah is standing back to make his second Celtic debut when the Hoops take on Hibs at Parkhead on Sunday afternoon.
