Adam Idah needed Celtic backing after being cast as Norwich scapegoat as Hampden hero dispels Carrow Road myth

Adam Idah has thanked Celtic for rebuilding his confidence in front of goal after feeling scapegoated at Norwich City.

The Ireland striker signed off his loan deal in sensational fashion by sinking Old Firm rivals Rangers with a 90th minute winner in the Scottish Cup final. That has cemented hero status for the Cork man among the Parkhead faithful, who are desperate to see him return on a permanent deal. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers wants to make it happen but is waiting on the club’s decision makers to green light a move, while Norwich will play hardball.

Idah still has four years left on his Canaries deal and the Championship club have just appointed Johannes Hoff Thorup as manager and he wants to assess his squad. But Idah said: “Going to that new environment was unbelievable for me and to have everyone behind you and supporting you is probably what I needed.

“I struggled a bit at Norwich, probably on the back end of a lot of things, with the way the team was going and I was probably the scapegoat to that. Going to Celtic really brightened it up for me and gave me a lot of confidence. For a striker to have that confidence is amazing.”

Asked to explain what he meant by ‘scapegoat’, Idah continued: “I just think the (Norwich) fans and the media. It felt that anything I was doing was wrong. If I scored a goal, it wasn't as good as the last time. If I don't play minutes, I'm not good enough. I was just stuck in that hole.

“It probably happens to everyone in football, not just me. It was just unfortunate that I was in it at that period but who knows what's going to happen.”

But while the 23-year-old admits he was in a rut before joining Celtic, he never feared his career could veer off track. To be fair, Norwich has