Norwich City ace Adam Idah deserves the limelight at Celtic

But when a Norwich City striker is single-handedly rescuing one of Britain’s biggest clubs, I couldn’t help but switch over to catch the dramatic finale of Celtic’s crucial 3-1 win at Motherwell.

With the visitors trailing at half-time, under-fire Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers needed a saviour.

And he stirringly found it in City loanee Adam Idah, who required just six minutes to power in a blisteringly brilliant header before grabbing a last-gasp winner to keep up the heat on Rangers at the summit of the SPL table.

It’s difficult to feel anything but elated for Idah, a player who always felt unnecessarily criticised in yellow and green but really, is a good young striker with bags of potential to thrive at the highest level.

Of course, given the way he felt consistently mismanaged under David Wagner and his frustrating lack of game-time, I completely understand why a loan north of the border felt like the best move for all parties.

But having been in that Ewood Park away end just under 24 hours prior to Idah’s Fir Park heroics, there’s no denying City would have benefited from the Irish striker’s energy, strength and dynamism as our players chased a winner.

Wagner’s away day woes continued in familiar fashion, seizing the initial advantage thanks to Marcelino Nunez’s magical free-kick but just like at QPR two weeks earlier, throwing it away once again to remain with just four league wins on the road all season.

As I prepare to cover Crufts in Birmingham next week, I assume Wagner does not own a dog – because his players just do not seem capable of hanging onto a lead.

Idah’s absence was of course not the reason City left Lancashire – and Loftus Road – with a solitary point, with their inability to emulate their first-half dominance after the break obviously inviting Blackburn pressure and leading to that inevitable leveller.

But after his eleventh hour, potentially Wagner job-saving exploits at both Cardiff and Bristol City, Idah is without doubt a player you want on the pitch when we’re in need of a late spark.

The Ireland international is strong, pacey and powerful, taking City higher up when they are in need of upfield outlet and at his best, a defender’s worst nightmare thanks to his hold-up play and penetrative runs in behind.

And it’s those assets that have made him such an instant hit in Glasgow since his January deadline day move, netting five times in as many matches – including in Celtic’s 7-1 win over Dundee in midweek – to help ease the pressure on Rodgers as his team bid to overhaul their rivals at the top of the table.

While it’s a source of regret that City no longer have Idah at their disposal as they continue their play-off pursuit, this should hopefully function as a hugely beneficial move for him and can be seen as nothing over than a win-win situation for all involved.

Either he comes back a considerably better player for City to welcome back into their ranks, or he significantly augments his transfer value and can be sold at a higher price.

But the whole way the situation has unfolded all feels so avoidable, a player who has admittedly been unlucky with injuries throughout his career but over the last couple of seasons, has found game-time undeservedly hard to come by despite impressing whenever given the chance.

Like any young striker, he has his moments where things don’t come off and he may make a mess of a good goalscoring opportunity.

But the level of criticism and scapegoating, particularly last term when he was yet to fully prove himself, has always been way over the top and it’s been brilliant to see those late winners, in conjunction with his all-round performances, prove many of his doubters wrong.

Idah has finally found a club that values him and gives him the chances he deserves – it’s just a shame it’s not that one that nurtured him and who could so obviously benefit from his ability right now.