Celtic could ease Idah injury blow by unleashing 18-goal academy star

Celtic have 13 days with no aggressive match to fret about as they head into the ultimate worldwide break of the yr, with the subsequent one not till March 2025.

Brendan Rodgers‘ aspect head into the break on a excessive after beating Kilmarnock 2-0 on Sunday to maneuver to the highest of the Scottish Premiership desk on aim distinction, forward of Aberdeen in second.

The Hoops had additionally beat Bundesliga aspect RB Leipzig 3-1 within the Champions League at Parkhead in midweek, which got here shortly after that they had smashed Aberdeen 6-0 to make it by way of to the ultimate of the League Cup.

These outcomes present that Celtic have been in terrific kind throughout all competitions of late and, due to that, the worldwide break might not have come at the very best time.

Hopefully, the break won’t cease their momentum and they’re going to have the ability to stick with it from the place they left off once they return to motion towards Hearts away from dwelling within the Premiership.

One factor that Rodgers can be cautious of throughout the break is accidents, as he won’t need any of his stars to endure setbacks while taking part in for his or her respective nations, and there’s a concern over Adam Idah in the intervening time.

Newest on Adam Idah’s health

The Republic of Eire confirmed on Monday that the Celtic centre-forward has determined to withdraw from their squad for the upcoming matches because of an damage.

There was no point out of the character or severity of the blow, nonetheless, however it’s one which has prevented him from with the ability to hyperlink up together with his nation this week.

Idah did should get patched up throughout the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday after a blow to the top, however continued taking part in after that incident, and it stays to be seen whether or not or not it is a continuation of that concern.

The summer time signing from Norwich Metropolis additionally had a scan on an ankle injury on the finish of October, after a poor problem from Motherwell’s Liam Gordon brought about him some points, however he has played three times since that conflict at Fir Park.

Supporters might not know the severity of the damage till Rodgers sits down for his pre-match press convention subsequent week forward of the Hearts sport, however – proper now – it’s a concern that Idah is doubtlessly out with an damage.

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The Eire worldwide was introduced in from Norwich for a reported fee of up to £9.5m and has largely performed a back-up function to Kyogo Furuhashi to date this season.

Adam Idah’s season in numbers

Within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, the 23-year-old centre-forward has contributed with five goals in 16 appearances in all competitions to date for the Scottish giants, beginning 5 of these matches.

This comes after Idah racked up nine goals and two assists in 19 outings throughout the second half of the 2023/24 marketing campaign on mortgage from Norwich, beginning simply seven of these video games, which implies that he must hearth in 4 targets and two assists in his subsequent three video games to equal that return.

Regardless of his spectacular kind while on mortgage final season and the numerous sum of cash paid to deliver him again on a everlasting deal, Rodgers has most well-liked Kyogo Furuhashi as his first-choice centre-forward within the Premiership and the Champions League.

The Japan worldwide has began eight of the 11 video games within the Premiership and three of the 4 matches within the Champions League, which has made it laborious for Idah to get right into a rhythm.

As you may see within the desk above, the Irishman has struggled to supply common high quality within the remaining third of the pitch together with his lack of minutes as a starter throughout each competitions.

Regardless of not being a daily starter, dropping him to an damage would nonetheless come as a blow to the Hoops, as he’s the one pure striker within the squad apart from Kyogo.

Rodgers may, nonetheless, ease that blow, ought to Idah find yourself out of motion for any video games after the break, by lastly unleashing Daniel Cummings, who has been in sensational kind for the academy this yr.

Why Daniel Cummings needs to be unleashed

The 18-year-old centre-forward has showcased his high quality in entrance of aim at youth stage for the reason that begin of the 2023/24 marketing campaign and an damage for the Eire worldwide may present him with a chance to shine.

Final season, Cummings fired in 12 goals in 19 appearances within the Lowland League for the B workforce, however struggled in Europe with a return of zero targets and one help in 5 outings within the UEFA Youth League.

This time period, nonetheless, the Scotland U17 worldwide has scored four goals in four matches within the UEFA Youth League, together with two targets towards RB Leipzig at dwelling final week.

Together with that, Cummings has additionally scored a staggering 14 goals in 12 appearances within the Lowland League, which takes his tally as much as 18 targets in 16 video games throughout these two competitions for the academy, in addition to 26 targets in his final 31 Lowland League matches.

These statistics present that the teenage sensation, who has been dubbed a “hot-shot” by journalist Pete O’Rourke, has been ruthless and prolific for the B workforce, which has not been the case for Kyogo at first-team stage.

As you may see within the desk above, the Japanese marksman has struggled together with his ending in each the Premiership and the Champions League this time period, lacking 14 ‘large possibilities’ in simply 15 video games.

This means that, if Idah is unavailable, Rodgers will want an alternate choice if Kyogo is misfiring in a match and that’s the reason Cummings should lastly be unleashed for his senior debut, to reward him for his elegant academy kind.

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