ADAM IDAH has had quite the fortnight.
Dropped for the crucial Champions League qualifier against Kairat Almaty – which Celtic lost. Then left out of the squad for the Old Firm derby clash against Rangers as he was left in limbo over a move to Swansea.
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In the end, the striker was allowed to leave – despite boss Brendan Rodgers insisting it wouldn’t happen unless a replacement was already lined up.
As it turned out, Celtic missed out on top target Kasper Dolberg and had to change tack and pick up Kelechi Iheanacho as a free agent.
Idah signed for Celtic 12 months ago on the back of a successful loan spell – in which he scored the winner in the Scottish Cup final – but his time as a permanent Hoops player never quite hit the same heights.
After being bought for £9million he left for £6m and will return to the Championship, where he last played for Norwich.
He was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad despite his state of flux and he repaid the faith shown in him with a stunning late goal against Hungary tonight.
The 24-year-old came off the bench to score in the third minute of stoppage time in the World Cup qualifier in Dublin.
Idah powered home a header from Ryan Manning’s cross and erupted with ecstasy in his celebration.
Hungary had taken the lead on the night at the Aviva Stadium just two minutes into the game through Barnabas Varga before Roland Sallai doubled their advantage on 15 minutes.
Evan Ferguson pulled one back for the hosts four minutes into the second half and Hungary went down to ten men a few minutes later when Sallai was sent off.
The Irish pushed for an equaliser and had more possession and shots but struggled to find the breakthrough.
But then up popped Idah in the 93rd minute.
Another former Celtic star in Mikey Johnston, now at West Brom, played the pass into Manning who picked out the sub with a floated cross into the box.
And Idah made no mistake as he directed the ball back across goal and into the back of the net.
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