Brendan Rodgers says Adam Idah needs another striker breathing down his neck again if he’s to replicate his best form in a Celtic jersey.
Despite Celtic continuing their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 win at Aberdeen, the Irishman struggled to make an impact.
Although he scored 20 goals last season, the 24-year-old has failed to find the net in his last four competitive outings and looks short on confidence.
Rodgers has still to sign a direct replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi, after he left in January, with Shin Yamada and Johnny Kenny on the bench on Sunday.
But the manager is convinced that, if he’s able to bring in the right competition, Idah can rediscover the form that persuaded Celtic to pay Norwich £9million for his signature.
‘Listen, there’s no doubt we need to reinforce the top line,’ said Rodgers after midfielders Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate scored yesterday’s goals.
Adam Idah congratulates Benjamin Nygren on his goal, but the Irishman needs one himself
New Celtic star Benjamin Nygren runs away to celebrate after scoring first goal at Pittodrie
Callum McGregor congratulates Reo Hatate after he scored a spectacular second goal
‘I’m really pleased with where we are structurally in defensive numbers. But I think we need competition at the top end of the field. So, yes, for Adam, he’s a big, honest boy. He was at his best here when was really challenging with Kyogo for the position.
‘And that is important, I think, for us to get. But, in the meantime, we’ll work hard and he’ll always be that reference for us.’
Asked if Idah just needed a goal to get up and running, Rodgers replied: “Yes, listen, you’re a striker at Celtic. You have to be strong mentally. You’ve got to score goals, of course.
‘But I’ve a lot of faith in him. He really needs that real competition beside him. And I think that’s when you then get the most out of him. So, yes, he didn’t quite score today, but he worked very hard. And he’s given his all and it’ll get better as the season goes on.’
The deadline for making signings for the play-off for the Champions League is Thursday, but Rodgers remains unsure if he will have the players he wants in the building by that stage.
‘I really don’t know at this point,’ he said. ‘I think, for us, it’s something that we know we need to do. But, in the meantime, we’ll work with the players that are here until our reinforcements arrive.’
Rodgers was delighted with Celtic’s display as they eased to victory at Pittodrie against the team who beat them in May’s Scottish Cup final.
‘I thought they were excellent,’ he said. ‘In the context of the game, Aberdeen playing their first competitive game at home and on the back end of the cup final, I thought we had real good control and domination of the game.
Kieran Tierney fires in the cross which was converted by his team-mate Nygren
Benjamin Nygren enjoys the applause after making the all-important breakthrough for Celtic
‘We scored two outstanding goals, could have had more. And then in the moments we had to be strong, we showed strength and power and kept any efforts on goal to a minimum.’
Rodgers also had a sarcastic dig at critics he feels don’t give him any credit for his success at the club and want him gone.
‘Listen, there’ll always be a narrative around,’ he said. ‘You know, I heard something the other day about: “You don’t play good football and don’t play that…”.
‘We’ve never played that in the last two years. So, I think there’s a number of people that really don’t like me here at Celtic.’
Rodgers was effusive in his praise for Kieran Tierney who set up the opener then came back out for the second half despite being ill at the interval.
‘He was sick at half-time, throwing up all over the changing room,’ he said. ‘Thankfully, I wasn’t in there at the time. But he’s come out, we gave him 15 minutes or so and then took him off. But he’s a top player and he’s only going to get fitter and stronger and better.’
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin said his side need to improve their decision making in the final third to get their season up and running.
Thelin, who is looking to sign Serbian forward Marko Lazetic from AC Milan, said: ‘The problem we have right now is the last pass and last decision when we arrive in an attacking position. And we are not arriving there enough to really hurt them.
‘Celtic defend their positions really well, but we need to be a bit more on the edge.’
