Johannes Hoff Thorup insisted transfer speculation around Adam Idah is out of his control, after he hailed the striker’s pre-season return for Norwich City in Belgium.

The Dane continues to plan for Idah being a key part of his Championship strategy despite the constant speculation touting him with a summer return to Celtic.

The 23-year-old played his first City game since January with a 32-minute fitness run out in Wednesday’s opening Belgian tour friendly 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge.

Idah was a hit in Glasgow during a productive loan stint that earned him a league and cup double, but the Bhoys are believed to have yet to meet City’s valuation this summer for a player with four years left on his Carrow Road deal.

“We cannot control about the market, and which clubs will be interested in which players. We don't know. So let's not waste time on it,” said Thorup. “Me and Adam sit down quite often, so we have had some good conversations already. He's a good lad.

"He's working hard and he's funny as well. And he gives some energy to the group and, you know, definitely, we could also see what kind of striker that he is. And we will definitely also use him in the season.

“I said to you last Saturday (at Northampton regarding Gabby Sara and Jon Rowe) the same, but they're working hard, they're professional, they really want to learn about the way we want to play. They're really into it. So of course we work with them as Norwich City players, which is what they are.”

Idah showed glimpses of his forward craft in a competitive work out against the Belgian champions.

“We consider Adam as an important player for us. Like I said earlier in the summer. So that's why he got this 30 minutes, which was important for him to get started, to get back in the rhythm, nice and easy,” said Thorup. “He had more or less only one full training week so that was also why we were pretty sure that it would only be half an hour.

"Then hopefully on Saturday (against Standard Liege) we can build him up to a little bit more, because I think from watching his qualities and what he can do he will be an important player for us.

“We have to take into consideration that this was the first 30 minutes for him in a long while and that's also what we expect, that he will be better, but I think there were some signs of what we can get out of him.

“We gave him a couple of passes where he needed to chest control, hold it and give lay-offs for us to progress the game. I think he did well in that sense. We could have used him even more in the offensive part of our game, but that will come, and from what I see it is only a matter of time.”

- The Pink Un will be providing full coverage of the Canaries' time in Belgium, including both friendly matches against Club Brugge and Standard Liege, in partnership with Chips Away Norwich