Adam Idah is hoping his contribution to Celtic's match-winning goal in the Champions League to ensure they advance to the play-off phase is just the boost he needs in front of goals.
The Glasgow giants endured a largely frustrating night against Young Boys, particularly in the first half where they had three goals ruled out and also missed a penalty.
The 23-year-old has struggled for goals of late and started on the bench before manager Brendan Rodgers introduced the Cork native with quarter of an hour to play.
Ten minutes later, he was the central figure in the match-winning goal. Visiting captain Loris Benito knocked the ball into his own net after Idah's effort was saved by goalkeeper Marvin Keller following Reo Hatate's excellent through ball.
After nine goals in 19 loan appearances last season, Idah has found the goals harder to come from since making a permanent switch in the summer with eight goals in 31 games, his last coming on 30 November.
Describing the result as "amazing", Idah said the confidence from the manager is always there.
⚽ Celtic 1-0 Young Boys
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 22, 2025
"It's amazing... We'll go as far as we can" - Ireland forward Adam Idah revelled in Celtic securing a knock-out place, thanks to his game-changing impact off the bench
📺 Reaction on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer#ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/2pQ7uRvSjc
"Any time I come on, he (Rodgers) says, 'do your thing, be yourself’. These are the games I want to play in, these are the games I want to have an impact on.
"What a pass, what a player he (Hatate) is. The ball he played through was fantastic. I got a bit lucky, but I’ll take it, I haven’t scored in a while.
"I said to the boys, ‘I don’t care, that’s my goal’ Hopefully it gets me on a run now."
Celtic 1-0 Young Boys
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 22, 2025
"I don't think he's going be the most prolific for them but he's constantly a threat. He offers something different. Stephen Kelly and Didi Hamann believe Adam Idah underlined his value to Celtic in their victory tonight" #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/5q4iVFwKFD
The Bhoys conclude their group campaign away to Aston Villa next week where a win would likely see Celtic claim one of the seeded places in the play-off round, if not a top-eight finish and direct entry to the last 16.
Either way, it’s Champions League knockout football for the Scottish club, but what can they achieve this season in the competition?
"I think we can go far," he said. "We have a great squad. We’ve come this far, why not dream big?"
