Chris Sutton on Adam Idah's potential Celtic loan move

There is no way to describe the last few years for Idah other than disappointing. He burst onto the scene with a hat trick against Preston North End. I was on Final Score that day, and I remember thinking, 'Here we go'. I suspect other Norwich fans thought the same. 

He looked like he was going to be the latest academy talent off the conveyor belt and would go on to bigger and better things. Sometimes, it doesn't work for certain players at certain clubs. It was the same for me at Chelsea - it is frustrating and impossible to put your finger on. 

Idah has had long enough to prove himself, especially at Championship level, and I think the team would have wanted more from him. Sadly, it feels like we've reached the end of the road. 

If they get a replacement, then I believe it is a move that is best for all parties. He has had enough opportunities to prove himself at Norwich, and it hasn't quite happened. 

Maybe he needs a fresh start and challenge. We can talk about his development, but he has had opportunities - it's a ruthless game, and he has failed to grab them with both hands when they have been offered. 

Take Jonny Rowe as an example; he has cracked on and taken his chance. Idah has had numerous opportunities and played over 100 times for Norwich, and he just hasn't done enough. 

I've done so many columns on Idah over the years. He has so much going for him; he's strong, quick and has a great physical profile, but it always feels like he could give more. He doesn't throw his weight around enough. 

Adam Idah has scored seven Championship goals this season. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

He is a confidence player and he is lacking that. He's just been a bit hesitant on the pitch. If they get an adequate replacement. I'm not sure many Norwich City fans would struggle to disagree with the decision to let him go. 

Both parties will likely feel dissatisfied with how it has gone, but there does come a time when he's had enough opportunities, and he's not made it happen for himself. Now Josh Sargent is back, he is going to be Norwich's number one striker. 

The fact he can't oust an ageing Ashley Barnes must be a major disappointment to him. But he isn't getting ahead of him for a reason and that's because he hasn't kicked on in the way everyone hoped. 

As for the fee, that is always going to be debated because of the inflated market, but that does feel on the light side, given he's 11 months into a five-year contract and his age. 

If they can get a deal sorted, all parties should shake hands, wish each other well and move on. Celtic is going to be a very difficult and different experience for him, if that gets finalised. You have to robust mentally to cope with life in Glasgow. 

My fear is that Idah will struggle to displace Celtic’s other strikers and isn’t any better than Oh Hyeon-gyu. He is a development player and I’m not sure that is what Celtic need either right now. I really hope he knows what he is getting himself into…

As for Norwich, the replacement has to be an upgrade, and they cannot leave themselves short. In my view, it's an outside shot to getting in the play-offs, but there is still a chance. They can't go and get a development player if they want to get back to the Premier League.

I know a few people have been surprised that Norwich haven't done more, or any, business up to this point, but nothing surprises me with them at the moment. 

Nothing I have seen in recent weeks has shifted my mind from the column I did on David Wagner a few weeks ago. It is not unreasonable to expect a Norwich team in the Championship to be more positive in the way they play. 

They should not be a counter-attacking team in the Championship. Yes, they did it well against West Brom, and yes, it is horses for courses - but that tells me everything about the decline of the club in recent years. 

The thought of Norwich getting promoted to the Premier League scares the life out of me.

The recent results have been better, but you need to have certain standards at a club, and this season, they've fallen below that. They aren't kidding anyone. The fans can see it, so why can't those at the top of the football club? 

Whatever anyone says - the whole Knapper silence is ridiculous. All it is doing is getting people's backs up. I get the need for time and patience, but you have to communicate. Is it a message from above? Wherever it has come from, it is a bad idea. 

Ben Knapper is yet to outline his Norwich City masterplan. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

I think they are getting it horribly wrong. It's like having a rotten windowsill; you can paint over it to make things look a bit better on the eye, and that is what a couple of results have done in the Championship, but we all know it will come tumbling down if they get beat against Coventry. 

Leadership has to come from the top and what Norwich fans are asking at the moment is, to quote Delia Smith, 'where are you? Let's be having you.' Where are they? Are we going to learn the plan after the window? In the summer? 

It's not difficult to communicate. But there is a fanbase there desperate to be spoken to and appeased. I've even seen really measured Norwich City supporters getting aggravated by the whole situation and the silence is deafening. 

With season ticket renewals on the horizon, it would be wise for them to get on the front foot and start talking to supporters.