Rodgers: Idah will thrive with competition up front

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers believes Adam Idah’s performances will improve if he faces strong competition for the club’s main striker role. The Cork-born forward started in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Aberdeen, but while midfielders Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate provided the goals, Idah struggled to make a significant attacking impact.

Competition Key to Unlocking Idah’s Best

Since Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure in January, Daizen Maeda initially stepped up as the club’s central scoring threat before returning to a wide role due to squad changes. Injuries to Jota and the sale of Nicolas Kuhn have left Idah as the main option up front. Rodgers is keen to strengthen in attack, arguing that Idah was at his best when pushing Kyogo for the starting spot.

“There’s no doubt we need to reinforce the top line,” Rodgers said. “I’m happy with our defensive and midfield depth, but we need competition in attack. Adam’s a big, honest lad, and when he was challenging Kyogo, that’s when he thrived.”

The Celtic boss acknowledged Idah’s work rate against Aberdeen but stressed the mental resilience required to succeed as a striker for the club. “He didn’t score, but he worked hard. He’ll get better as the season goes on,” Rodgers added.

Midfielders Leading the Scoring Chart

All three of Celtic’s goals this season have come from midfield. Nygren, who scored the opener against Aberdeen, netted 15 goals for Nordsjaelland in Denmark last season and has already shown his versatility by playing multiple attacking roles.

Rodgers praised his new signing’s natural attacking instincts, saying, “He’s a player who loves getting in the box and scoring goals—that’s why we brought him in.”

Aberdeen’s Struggles in Attack

Aberdeen started brightly but faded after Nygren’s 27th-minute goal. Manager Jimmy Thelin was satisfied with his side’s defensive organisation but admitted the team lacked precision in the final third. “The problem is the last pass and decision-making when we get into attacking positions,” Thelin said.

The Dons boss declined to comment on reports linking the club with 21-year-old AC Milan striker Marko Lazetic but confirmed efforts are ongoing to strengthen their forward line. “Everybody’s working hard to find the right player,” he said.