Neil Lennon has urged Adam Idah to raise his game after the Irish striker failed to make a significant impact in Celtic’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Dundee.

Callum McGregor Celtic
22nd December 2024; Tannadice Park, Dundee, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Dundee United versus Celtic; Callum McGregor of Celtic organises his team mates

Idah, who was handed another start by Brendan Rodgers, continued his goalless run in the Scottish Premiership, with his last league goal coming back in November.

The former Celtic manager didn’t hold back in his analysis while speaking on Sky Sports, pointing out Idah’s lack of cutting edge in front of goal and his overall contribution to the team’s play.

Lennon suggested that Callum McGregor, as captain, should step in and demand more from the striker.

“It’s as simple as that. He should have scored in the first half.

“He makes some runs, keeps going, instead of changing his runs, at times. He has to hold the ball up a little bit better and he has to get on the end of crosses. There is one that came far post and he sort of, more or less, ducked out of it, when he should really go and attack it.

“He has good attributes, but he needs to do a lot more. If I were the captain in there or Callum, I would be going, ‘Come on. We need more out of you’. It’s about time he played the width of the box, instead of making all these runs in the channels, especially when Celtic are in the final third. He has to stay central and link the play up a little better as well.”

Rodgers has shown faith in the former Norwich City forward, handing him regular starts in recent weeks, but Idah’s struggles in front of goal are becoming a concern. Despite flashes of potential, the striker has now gone 12 games without a goal in the Premiership and hasn’t done enough to convince supporters that he can be a reliable attacking option.

He cost the club £9.5 million in the summer, a high price for a striker who isn’t finding the back of the net regularly.

With Celtic boasting a commanding lead at the top of the league table, Rodgers has the luxury to experiment, but patience may be wearing thin for Idah to prove himself.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I suggest the players would fire back with get your own act together Callum . McGregor has not been himself for weeks now.
    His best pass last night was the lay off to the Dundee player in the lead up to their second goal and his attempt at chasing the ball back was quite lamentable ( slow).. Maybe he just needs a rest but for now the opposition just keep running past him . Remember he is our defensive midfielder and we are losing too many goals.
    Another point that should be highlighted is that we don’t have a recognized starting eleven as Rodgers continually changes the midfield and forward line. He needs to find our best eleven and stick to making substitutions when required.

  2. Not sure McGregor has the right to demand any player to raise his game.

    Needs to look at himself.

    Was anonymous yet again last night as he was in the 2 recent Rangers games among others.

    He’s just coasting along in his comfort zone, every other midfielder has been dropped when out of sorts, while McGregor is guaranteed his place regardless, and his recent performances suggest he knows it.

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