CELTIC striker Adam Idah was mysteriously shunned by manager Heimir Hallgrimsson as the Republic of Ireland lost 2-0 to Greece in their UEFA Nations League crunch in Athens last night.
The second most expensive player in Hoops history after his £9.5million arrival from Norwich City in the summer didn’t even get a kick of the ball as his team failed to get the goal that would have offered a lifeline.
The hosts, who won 2-1 over England at Wembley last week, were 1-0 ahead through Anasastasios Bakasetas’ strike three minutes after the interval with the Irish still in with a chance of gaining a much-needed point.
New boss Hallgrimsson utilised five substitutes, but overlooked the goal threat of Idah who remained on the bench.
GETTING TO GRIPS…Adam Idah in action for the Republic of Ireland in their UEFA Nations league encounter against England at the Aviva Stadium last month.
Even when the Icelander withdrew attack-leader Evan Ferguson in the 57th minute, he replaced him with midfielder Jack Taylor who was making his debut.
And ex-Celt Mikey johnston got the nod to take over from Sammie Szmodics in the 72nd minute.
Idah had come on for the same player in the 80th minute in the last game against Finland in Helsinki with the scoreline deadlocked at 1-1 after Liam Scales had scored his first goal for his country.
Eight minutes after the introduction of the Hoops powerhouse frontman in the Finnish capital, Robbie Brady claimed the winner.
On this occasion, though, Hallgrimsson mystifyingly overlooked the obvious menace of the hitman who scored nine goals – including the Scottish Cup winner – in 17 loan appearances for the champions last season.
The visitors paid a heavy price for the team chief’s reasoning in Athens when Petros Mantalos netted a stoppage-time second to seal the points.
BEST FOOT FORWARD…Adam Idah goes for a high ball as Alistair Johnston acts as back-up in the 2-1 win over Ross County in Dingwall.
Afterwards, Hallgrimsson, speaking to the BBC, said: “It’s a good team, good players with maybe too little belief to go into games like this. At this level you need to have your chest forward when you play games.
“You have to be on the front foot, and it seems we need moments to get that.
“I have belief in these guys and I hope that people have seen that this team can be really, really good on their day.”
The Irish have not won back-to-back competitive games since March 2019.
Next month, Greece visit Dublin before their trip to Wembley to round off the Nations League campaign so far.
Possibly Idah may be give the opportunity to show the new manager his qualities in these outings.
