Latest news with #Idah
Irish Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Idah admits disappointment at Cork match - but confidence levels are soaring
Hitting the net in the Champions League gave Ireland's Adam Idah's confidence levels a turbo charge – and the Celtic striker is determined to get plugged in again. The Hoops frontman ticked off one of his big bucket-list targets by notching for the Parkhead men at the very highest level last term. Idah bagged a goal on his Champions League debut in the five-goal stuffing of Slovan Bratislava and also pounced with a lethal double in the six-goal thriller against Aston Villa. The 24-year-old has admitted he's a confidence player. Idah said: 'Yeah 100 per cent. I've said it plenty of times, for me confidence is a big thing. Obviously to score in the Champions League, one of the biggest competitions in the world, is amazing for me. "To do that in my first season playing in the Champions League was fantastic. 'You can learn a lot from it. You're playing against the best players in the world, and to score goals in that competition is a fantastic feeling. It did really help.' It wasn't just Idah who relished being on the big stage last season. Celtic lapped it up and held their own to progress beyond the group stage in the new-look format before giving everything over two legs against Bayern Munich in the knockout stages. It was almost cruel that the reward was to get bumped out of an automatic place in this year's competition. While England has about 14 teams gaining direct entry, the Scottish champions will need to go through the physical and emotional turmoil of a play-off. Who they might face is a mystery right now, but there could be hurdles such as Austrians Sturm Graz, Swiss champs Basel and old chums Slovan Bratislava. There are other danger clubs lurking too, like Croatians Rijeka and former foes such as Malmo and Bodo/Glimt. Regardless of the draw Idah understands the magnitude of the clash. It's a cup final barely a fortnight into the new season. The Corkman said: 'It's going to be a really big game. The Champions League is a massive tournament for us, one of the biggest in the world, and every single player wants to play in it. 'It's a huge game for us, and we want to do the best we can to get back into the Champions League and have another good year.' Idah reckons competing in Europe has helped him kick-on under Brendan Rodgers. The Hoops boss has been a big support to the striker. Sometimes it's been giving his confidence a boost with a pat on the back, other times it's been a well-timed boot up the backside. Like in Portugal last week when the gaffer gave him a roasting from the sidelines after missing a couple of sitters against Sporting. Idah takes it on board rather than to heart – knowing the boss will get the best out of him. He said: 'That was one of the reasons why I joined Celtic in the first place. I have lots of trust in the manager. I think he's got a lot of trust in me, and we've come up with a plan together when I first signed, and it's about taking each step as it comes now. 'Next season's obviously going to be a big season for me. I'm looking forward to it.' Idah insists there is more to come and he's hoping being the main man with the Celts can come with some fringe benefits. While the Hoops are hitting Europe, the Republic of Ireland are dreaming of reaching the World Cup Finals for the first time in 24 years. Ireland are up against Portugal, Hungary and Armenia in the qualifiers and Idah wants to be in top form for his club to take into national duty. He said: 'This year is going to be really important with the World Cup next year, and you need to be playing at club level if you want to play in these competitions, so it's a big year for me. 'It's a tournament that everyone wants to play in, and for us as a country, it's going to be massive. We're all looking forward to it. We're all pushing to try and qualify. So yeah, this season at club level will be really important for me.' Idah is determined to hit the ground running after doing the hard yards in pre-season, with the Hoops landing in Italy for the next step of their preparations with clashes against Ajax on Thursday and then either Serie Como or Saudi side Al-Ahli at the weekend. Celtic are flying after wins against Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle – following a trip to Idah's Cork. He said: 'It was lovely going back. it was a bit disappointing that I couldn't play, but it was really nice being back home, seeing everyone and the support we had was amazing. 'I never once thought that would happen. Pre-season has been really good. Everyone's looking fresh and training's been going well. We had a tough week training in Portugal, so it was good to get back out on the pitch.'
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Adam Idah insists he's a different Celtic animal for breaking Euro duck as Hoops fans promised there's more to come
Dinding the net against the very best was just what Idah needed to prove he can cut it among the big boys Hitting the net in the Champions League gave Adam Idah's confidence levels a turbo charge – and the Celtic striker is determined to get plugged in again. The Hoops frontman ticked off one of his big bucket-list targets by notching for the Parkhead men at the very highest level last term. Idah bagged a goal on his Champions League debut in the five-goal stuffing of Slovan Bratislava and also pounced with a lethal double in the six-goal thriller against Aston Villa. The 24-year-old has admitted he's a confidence player. Most strikers are, in fairness, but when Idah has the good vibes flowing, goals usually follow. And finding the net against the very best was just what he needed to prove he can cut it among the big boys. Idah said: 'Yeah 100 per cent. I've said it plenty of times, for me confidence is a big thing. Obviously to score in the Champions League, one of the biggest competitions in the world, is amazing for me. "To do that in my first season playing in the Champions League was fantastic. 'You can learn a lot from it. You're playing against the best players in the world, and to score goals in that competition is a fantastic feeling. It did really help.' It wasn't just Idah who relished being on the big stage last season. Celtic lapped it up and held their own to progress beyond the group stage in the new-look format before giving everything over two legs against Bayern Munich in the knockout stages. It was almost cruel that the reward was to get bumped out of an automatic place in this year's competition. While England has about 14 teams gaining direct entry, the Scottish champions will need to go through the physical and emotional turmoil of a play-off. Who they might face is a mystery right now, but there could be hurdles such as Austrians Sturm Graz, Swiss champs Basel and old chums Slovan Bratislava. There are other danger clubs lurking too, like Croatians Rijeka and former foes such as Malmo and Bodo/Glimt. Regardless of the draw Idah understands the magnitude of the clash. It's a cup final barely a fortnight into the new season. The Ireland star said: 'It's going to be a really big game. The Champions League is a massive tournament for us, one of the biggest in the world, and every single player wants to play in it. 'It's a huge game for us, and we want to do the best we can to get back into the Champions League and have another good year.' Idah reckons competing in Europe has helped him kick-on under Brendan Rodgers. The Hoops boss has been a big support to the striker. Sometimes it's been giving his confidence a boost with a pat on the back, other times it's been a well-timed boot up the backside. Like in Portugal last week when the gaffer gave him a roasting from the sidelines after missing a couple of sitters against Sporting. Idah takes it on board rather than to heart – knowing the boss will get the best out of him. He said: 'That was one of the reasons why I joined Celtic in the first place. I have lots of trust in the manager. I think he's got a lot of trust in me, and we've come up with a plan together when I first signed, and it's about taking each step as it comes now. 'Next season's obviously going to be a big season for me. I'm looking forward to it.' Idah insists there is more to come and he's hoping being the main man with Celts can come with some fringe benefits. While the Hoops are hitting Europe, the Republic of Ireland are dreaming of reaching the World Cup Finals for the first time in 24 years. The Irish are up against Portugal, Hungary and Armenia in the qualifiers and Idah wants to be in top form for his club to take into national duty. He said: 'This year is going to be really important with the World Cup next year, and you need to be playing at club level if you want to play in these competitions, so it's a big year for me. 'It's a tournament that everyone wants to play in, and for us as a country, it's going to be massive. We're all looking forward to it. We're all pushing to try and qualify. So yeah, this season at club level will be really important for me.' Idah is determined to hit the ground running after doing the hard yards in pre-season, with the Hoops landing in Italy for the next step of their preparations with clashes against Ajax on Thursday and then either Serie Como or Saudi side Al-Ahli at the weekend. Celts are flying after wins against Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle – following a trip to Idah's hometown in Cork. He said: 'It was lovely going back. it was a bit disappointing that I couldn't play, but it was really nice being back home, seeing everyone and the support we had was amazing. 'I never once thought that would happen. Pre-season has been really good. Everyone's looking fresh and training's been going well. We had a tough week training in Portugal, so it was good to get back out on the pitch.'
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic transfer news as Giuseppe Ambrosino in limbo and Adam Idah concern raised
One Parkhead hero has issued a fresh transfer plea to Brendan Rodgers Reported Celtic target Giuseppe Ambrosino looks one step closer to leaving Napoli after the striker was left out of a pre-season training camp. The Italy U21 star has returned to Naples after spending last season with Frosinone in Serie B where he chipped in with five goals and four assists. Ambrosino is said to be on Celtic 's radar and with just a year remaining on his contract with Scudetto winners Napoli, is expected to move on this summer, with Serie A new boys Cremonese also chasing the 21-year-old. And according to Il Mattino (via Ambrosino is one of six fringe players who Antonio Conte has not included for a pre-season trip to Dimaro in the north of the country. Despite adding Callum Osmand and Shin Yamada - who is poised to join the Hoops from Kawasaki Frontale imminently - Brendan Rodgers' is still on the hunt for more quality in the forward deparment. Number nine Adam Idah recently declared that he has what it takes to hit the 30 goal mark at Parkhead next season but that claim has been described as 'bold' by one Celtic hero who reckons getting another frontman in the door is imperative. John Hartson also believes Idah will have a job getting in the team ahead of last season's player of the year Daizen Maeda, who scored goals for fun after being moved into a central role. Speaking to The Celtic Way, he said: "As statements go, it is a bold one from Adam Idah as I think Celtic need another striker to be added to their ranks. "Celtic cannot afford to rest on their laurels, and adding quality keeps players on their toes. They will start the season in four competitions. The team needs to strengthen every year, especially if they want to progress and have another good run like they did last season in the Champions League. "If Idah gets the game time, he could score 30 goals a season, as he has shown that he can do it at this level and in the Champions League. "My main concern for Idah would be getting enough playing time this season. I was a bit like him as I wanted to play in every game, but in the world that we live in now and in these heady days of rest and recovery and sports science, it is rare for any footballer to participate in every match because coaches want to protect them from burnout. "Rodgers has a real decision on his hands here as Maeda was a revelation last season, and because of that, he may well be the preferred starting striker over Idah. "Maeda's numbers were incredible in terms of goals and assists. A lot of Celtic supporters might prefer to see Maeda remain as the starting centre-forward in place of Idah." Meanwhile, former Hoops star Giorgios Giakoumakis has seen a move to the MLS knocked back. The Greece international - who netted 26 times in 57 matches for Celtic - left Atlanta United to join Mexican outfit Cruzl Azul last summer. And a report from Mexican outlet am states that Cruz Azul have rejected a bid from Charlotte FC for the 30-year-old.
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Sporting Lisbon 0 Celtic 2 – Hatate & McCowan strike as Hoops end trip with impressive win over Portuguese champions
THEY say what goes on tour stays on tour. But Brendan Rodgers wants his Celtic squad to take something home with them from their training trip to Portugal. 5 Reo Hatate opened the scoring in the Algarve Credit: Getty 5 Luke McCowan's strike made it 2-0 Credit: Getty 5 It was a good result for Brendan Rodgers' side Credit: Getty 5 It wasn't a good night at the office for Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon Credit: Getty That's a togetherness and camaraderie they've forged, to set them up for the season. Rodgers last night watched his side get a good 2-0 win over Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon in Faro. What pleased him more than anything from the week away, though, was the team spirit forged OFF the park. Reo Hatate's second-half penalty and Luke McCowan's cool finish only enhanced the feel-good factor around the group as they gear up for the new campaign. Rodgers said: 'It's been an excellent trip for us. 'It seems like a long time ago since we were in Cork, but coming out to here, it's been a pleasure to get a lot of good work in. 'What's very important is the camaraderie and the spirit that you create when you're away on pre-season tours. 'This has been everything that we've wanted, and we want to finished off with another really good game. 'It's always about timing. You're pushing the players to their very maximum. 'Physically the guys are improving. Incoming Celtic signing Shin Yamada wipes away tears as he bids emotional farewell to Kawasaki Frontale in Japan 'I think we still have a way to go, but there's absolutely no doubt before that physical and mental sharpness is there within our game. 'These early moments of pre-season, they're all about the tests, physically and mentally and the guys are coping really well.' Celtic played some really good stuff against the Portuguese champions. There was just something missing in the final third in the first-half. Adam Idah may see himself as a No9 capable of scoring 30-plus goals for Rodgers in the season ahead. But his first-half finishing didn't back that up. The Irishman should have scored inside five minutes from a Daizen Maada cut-back, but he couldn't sort his feet out. Then in 25 minutes Kieran Tierney picked out the striker inside the six-yard box with a sensational cross. But again Idah failed to make the right connection. Rodgers was standing out on the touchline as both chances came and went. And each time he turned around to his coaches on the bench in frustration. Idah has so many qualities with his stats last season decent. He hit 20 goals. And it's not like this was a big Champions League play-off. But one of those is just around the corner and you can't help think that Celtic will have signed a new goalscorer by then. It was maybe always the plan to take Idah off at half-time and replace him with youngster Johnny Kenny. But he'll be gutted he didn't make the most of his night. Kenny made an immediate impact as he continues to impress. He was the man tripped inside the box at the incident which saw Celts score from the penalty spot in 47 minutes. It was Kenny's first involvement with Hatate beating keeper Matheus Reis with a blasted spot-kick. Idah wasn't the only one who could have done better in front of goal before the break. Daizen Maeda was one-on-one with the goalkeeper after Callum McGregor played the through-ball of the night. Benjamin Nygren also passed up a decent opportunity to hit the net. The midfielder had a really good game, though. His touch and awareness was impressive, with the Swede showing a good turn of pace took him from middle to front in the blink of an eye. Sporting will feel unfortunate they didn't score past either Kasper Schmeichel in the first-half or Viljami Sinisalo in the second. Skipper Morten Hjulmand came closest with a drilled shot which smashed off the post after 57 minutes. That was around a spell in the game when Sporting looked like they'd get the next goal. But Celts were soon 2-0 in front. Kid Kenny led a brilliant break and fed a neat pass to McCowan bust a gut to get forward, calmly stepped inside before slotting home. 5 Overall, Rodgers was delighted with the effort he got from his squad throughout their Portuguese camp. He added: 'The facilities were excellent. 'We've shown the players that we want to bring them to top-quality facilities and that has been really good. 'The game against Estrela the other day, of course we want to win every single game that we play but getting the players the minutes in their legs and getting young players game-time was important. 'Then there was the connection with the visit to Estádio Nacional on Monday. 'That was a really poignant moment, I felt, for us to take the players to the place where real history was created. 'It's a symbol for the guys of what they have to live up to and what they have to work towards every single day. 'So I'm really pleased with the on-field application. 'And off the field, the bonding socially has been really good and people are connecting well.' Celtic take on Newcastle United in a glamour friendly clash at Parkhead on Saturday. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kieran Tierney back to his Celtic best as Big Ben leaves travelling diehards gushing in Portugal
Celtic impressed in the Algarve to seal a 2-0 pre-season victory over Sporting CP The Estadio Algarve has been the scene of a few rather embarrassing moments for the Scotland national set up over the years, writes Michael Gannon in Portugal. There was a dismal 2-0 win over the part-timers from Gibraltar in these parts, and before then we had the toe-curling Gordon Strachan giant celebration selfie after his Scots had beaten the minnows – even though we'd already slumped in our bid to make the Euros. But there were certainly no red faces for Celtic here amid the sea of green and white – apart from perhaps the sunburnt ones – as the Hoops secured an impressive win against a strong Sporting side. And after a cool start, Celts are starting to really warm up ahead of the new campaign. Sporting were a huge step up in class in the pre-season ladder but Brendan Rodgers ' men were slick at times in the draining 30 degree heat. Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan notched in the second period – but they should have been well ahead by half time against a team that featured £70m Man United target Morten Hjulmand and Portugal stars Pedro Gonclaves and Francisco Trincao. Adam Idah missed a couple of sitters before limping off with an injury during the half-time warm down while Daizen Maeda also went close. Kieran Tierney was bang in form and the travelling supporters were left gushing at the display of new Bhoy Benjamin Nygren. The Hoops did get ahead early in the second period after Hatate blasted his penalty through keeper Rui Silva after sub Johnny Kenny was clipped in the box. And Kenny was involved for the second when he broke free to release McCowan and the midfielder showed a touch of class to find the bottom corner and come out on top in the battle of the Hoops. Here are our five talking points from the Algarve. Strike it lucky Shin Yamada is on the way and it's maybe a little nudge for Adam Idah. The big striker put in a shift here but might have had his shooting boots on the wrong feet. Idah had a couple of chances he should have stuck in the net and it was just as well it was a bounce game and not the Champions League qualifier. The first one he couldn't get his feet in order to meet Maeda's cutback but the second one was an even bigger opportunity when Kieran Tierney curled in a cross that landed on a plate. Idah made a bit of a meal of it though. The 24-year-old does know the way to goal and he hit 20 last term. It is still pre-season and he's not fully up to speed either. But Idah has competition on the way and he'll need to be more clinical in the coming weeks. In squad we trust Celtic were more than decent in Faro and it looks like they are now going up through the pre-season gears as the club's main men got more than an hour in their legs. Yet there is still some obvious work required in the transfer market. Yamada will bolster the attack but Celts are well short in some key areas. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Paulo Bernardo will return in the next week or so and boost the group. But Rodgers is crying out for some first team ready reinforcements in the wide areas and elsewhere in the side. Young centre back Dane Murray had a cracking night at the back and might have more of a role this coming season. But Tierney will need back-up too and it remains to be seen if Yamada is going to be the Kyogo replacement. Celtic are in a strong position – but they do need to make moves. KT and the Sunshine Band Celtic fans got their first look of Tierney again in the flesh – and the defender got a heck of a welcome. Supporters – who'd either hopped over for the game or were taking it in during their summer hols – gave him a huge roar when he stepped on to the pitch in the Algarve. They would also have been impressed with his performance. There's no doubt Tierney was a tad rusty at the weekend but he was much more like his old self here. There were some trademark bombing runs up the flank and typical full pelt challenges. There was also a belter of a cross for one of Idah's big first half chances. It was like he'd never been away. Schmeichel back with a bang Speaking of returns Celtic's great Dane got his first taste of pre-season – and there were no signs of any rust. Schmeichel was given extra time off after the June international but was back in solid form between the sticks. There were a couple of smart saves during his 45 minutes on the pitch and punters could hear him roaring on his teammates as usual. Forget about that gaff in the Scottish Cup Final, Schmeichel is still the main man for Celts. Big Ben chimes in Benjamin Nygren was handed his first start – and he really looked the part. The Sweden attacker slotted into the right side of midfield but he had license to roam and cause problems for Sporting. It worked a treat as he was heavily involved in a lot of the good stuff from Celts going forward. A slick through ball sent Daizen Maeda in behind early and there was some terrific link-up play with James Forrest. Nygren isn't likely to be the replacement to Nicolas Kuhn out wide, but he does have the ability to drift wide and then drive in off the flank, like the German did so well for much of last season. It's still early days but the Swede already looks a sharp piece of business.
