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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Celtic's struggling stars: Idah's 12-game goal drought and Trusty's tough time

Celtic striker Adam Idah has come under scrutiny after the £9million summer signing took his goalless run to 12 games this week. 

Idah looked devoid of confidence during the pulsating 3-3 Scottish Premiership draw against Dundee on Tuesday. 

But he's not the only one in Hoops colours to receive criticism over the past few days.

USA defender Auston Trusty was publicly called out by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers following the match at Dens Park, a game which he was run ragged by Dundee's Simon Murray.

And Celtic hero Chris Sutton believes that Trusty, who was signed from Sheffield United last summer, will be learning a lot about the Scottish game. 

While, he went on to question Idah, who the ex-striker says he watched at his old club Norwich City, and reckons he needs to contribute more - even if it's not getting on the scoresheet.

Writing in his Daily Record column, Sutton said: "Football has a funny way of biting you on the backside, you only have to look at Auston Trusty the other night in Dundee. He thought he could coast it but Dundee under Tony Docherty, a manager I greatly admire, masterminded an opponent who didn’t give the champions respite.


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"I don’t think the USA international will have come up against many players like Simon Murray in his career. Over the piece, Trusty has acquitted himself this season but you can’t take Scottish football for granted. And he’s not the only player who got it tight.

(Image: Jane Barlow - PA) “Adam Idah is coming in for some heavy criticism and it’s now 12 games without a goal for the Ireland international. It was difficult for him earlier in the season when he was in and out of the team with cameo appearances. I was delighted for him last season.  "I had watched a lot of him at Norwich and, with the greatest respect to him, I was expecting to see the Adam Idah we are seeing at the moment last season. The guy who rocked up was a breath of fresh air. But he now looks like a player with a lack of confidence. The one the other night when Kyogo teed him up appeared like a player who was more worried about the goalkeeper – you’ve got to want to score a goal.

"There is a hesitancy, but I had that at times during my own career. When you are flying, you are not worried about a goalkeeper in your eyeline, he wasn’t brave enough, it’s what sets the best strikers above everyone else. 

"I don’t think it’s great when you are in then you are out, it’s the same with Yang. The pressure is on to contribute, Idah’s form be a little bit of a concern for Brendan. It’s not ideal when a striker goes that many games without scoring.

"His all-round contribution could be greater as well. You look at Kyogo when he has played narrow off the right. He is such an intelligent player. His link-up, he is always trying to play forward. He knows where centre forwards want to be fed.  "Idah is different, in terms of him being a reference point, and he just needs one to go in for him. It’s about working hard in training, lots of finishing drills. Repetition is where I always got my confidence from. Eventually something will drop, he will sweep one in and he will be off and running again."

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