Callum McGregor: 'Adam Idah has the world at his feet with the ability and talent he's got'

Irish Examiner

4 days ago

As a Celtic lifer, Callum McGregor is qualified to appreciate the ties that bind Ireland and his employer.
He had just joined the Celts Boys section at 12 when Roy Keane arrived for a brief career swansong.
Roy's namesake Robbie also temporarily passed through Paradise as the midfielder was progressing while he also crossed paths with Damien Duff on the coaching staff.
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Next Tuesday when he leads the Bhoys out at Cork's Páirc Uí Chaoimh, there'll be three Irishmen in his squad he's certain can sculpt the team's future.
Adam Idah's homecoming to Leeside will be special, while League of Ireland exports Liam Scales and Johnny Kenny also form part of the Scottish champions' squad.
Brendan Rodgers has assembled a multicultural squad to tackle their campaign ahead, including a tilt at bettering last season's march through the Champions League group stage to the playoff where they fell 3-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich.
An appreciation of the club's history, especially their links to Ireland, give players closer to home the advantage, according to McGregor.
'Players from Britain and Ireland know what Celtic is about – that culture about expectation of winning,' said the 32-year-old ahead of their pre-season friendly against a Cork City selection.
'I think we see it differently to maybe the foreigners coming in from Europe or Japan or where we pick them up from.
'You need a strong squad that understands what the fabric of the club is about, what the supporters want to see on match day and how that reflects the team.
"The manager has always been big on having a strong core of players who understand the club. Ultimately you're playing for the supporters and the expectation of wins. We understand it in a different way.'
Idah's 20 goals throughout last season contributed to that success. McGregor foresees the 24-year-old only improving.
'Adam has the world at his feet with the ability and talent he's got,' he gushed about the striker they bought last year from Norwich City for €10m following a loan stint.
'He's been excellent and still a young player who is developing and learning all the time.
'His impact began when he came on loan for the last six months the season before, scoring some big goals including the Scottish Cup final winner.
'Then this last first full season last year, his goal return improved with more games and experience.
'We've been really impressed with him and we just continue to try and push and get the maximum out of him because he's a top young player.'
'Johnny has grown over a period of time,' he said of the 22-year-old, who moved from his local club before spending two loans at the other Rovers, Shamrock.
'He first came off a really good reputation in the League of Ireland, scoring a lot of goals at a really young age.
'Everyone could see the potential. He did well on loan and has matured into a very good young footballer.
'He's had a few chances since he came back in and the signs are really good for him and he just continues to keep working hard. He's been first class.'
Scales was another to swap the green and white hoops of Rovers for Celtic. At one point, two years, his €600,000 move from Rovers seemed to be heading for a switch to Aberdeen but he persevered to claim a place in the Celtic and Ireland defences.
'The development in Scalesy has been amazing,' noted one-club stalwart McGregor.
'Maybe he was at a crossroads but sometimes you need a little bit of patience at times at a big club like this.
'There are many moving parts as well and you're better staying the course by biding your time. He's a perfect example of that.
'He's got great balance for the team, serves the ball really well, and he's actually a good leader for the group as well in the way he pushes to the maximum of his ability.'
The majority of the Celtic squad returned to training over the past week, with prodigal son Kieran Tierney to join them in time for the trip to Cork.
'Everyone at this club is taking the game against Cork seriously,' McGregor affirmed, fresh from a two-month break facilitated by his decision to retire from the Scotland squad last August.
'Every game you play for Celtic is so important. We're in the pre-season phase but these games can be even more important for the fitness to carry you through a long, hard season.
"Irish fans travel over every week in their numbers to Celtic Park and away games. These guys are doing the yard so when we perform live for them we want to ensure fans remember seeing the players up close and personal. We want to put on a show.'