John Hartson tells Adam Idah to be a leader for Celtic

The Celtic Star

·9 April 2025

John Hartson tells Adam Idah to be a leader for Celtic

Celtic legend John Hartson has urged Republic of Ireland star Adam Idah to be more of a leader at club level…

John Hartson, at the Celtic Star Books launch at the Kerrydale Suite at Celtic Park for Matt Corr’s Majic, Stan and the King of Japan in October 2023. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

The former Celtic, Arsenal and Wales forward was a main focal point of the team when he donned the famous green and white hoops and could always be relied upon as a leader and general voice within the squad that set standards and drove his teammates on for success.

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Celtic team lacks leaders says Hartson

Fast forward to the current day and there aren’t as many leaders in the side as we had hoped there would be. This alarming trend has raised it’s head of late with Brendan Rodgers’ team, as they have shown a real lack of leadership inside the dressing room outside of Callum McGregor and Kasper Schmeichel. It’s been a real eye-opener the last few weeks how badly the team has struggled and how nobody has taken control on the pitch with these limp displays.

Adam Idah of Celtic’s shot blocked by Zach Mitchell of St Johnstone. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Football, McDiarmid Park, Perth,06 April 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/IMAGO Shutterstock

Idah should follow in Hartson and Sutton’s footsteps

Adam Idah is far from the only player this claim can be levelled at, but with the big striker occupying the same spot that John Hartson covered back in the day for the Glasgow outfit, he clearly feels an onus on Idah to continue in players like himself and Chris Sutton’s footsteps by commanding better from those around him and himself.

Speaking to the Go Radio Football Show, the ex-Celt said: “He doesn’t normally (play Maeda and Idah together). Brendan’s formation doesn’t change a lot. Sometimes when he is chasing a game.

Adam Idah of Celtic heads at goal but his effort was saved by St Johnstone goalkeeper Andy Fisher. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Football, McDiarmid Park, Perth, 06 April 2025: Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

‘He has to be a bit more of a leader’

“He doesn’t very often go with the two up, unless you are chasing the game, like they were against St Johnstone. I thought Idah come on and I thought he was poor. I think he needs to do more. He comes on, and he has to get a grip of it. He has to be a bit more of a leader. Get it into me. Give me the ball. Get it wide. But, against St Johnstone, it’s almost like he comes on and it’s like he just comes on. You have to want to come on. A better attitude to make an impact in the game,” Hartson added.

Adam Idah of Celtic celebrates after scoring to give them a 2-0 lead Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Quarter Final, Celtic Park, – 09 March 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

The service for Idah was pretty abysmal on Sunday

There’s no denying the service for Idah was pretty abysmal on Sunday afternoon too, but the main theme of Hartson’s argument is sound. There is a distinct lack of character and personality been shown from all the Celtic squad at present, with Idah needing to lead by example and literally be the bigger man. That powerful frame is supposed to be the back-up option when Maeda’s stealth and pace aren’t proving successful on the day. He needs to show that hunger and desire from last season when we brought him in temporarily.

Adam Idah of Celtic celebrates after scoring to give them a 2-0 lead Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Gas Scottish Cup, Quarter Final, Celtic Park, – 09 March 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

It’s time for all the team to step up and show leadership, Idah included.

Paul Gillespie

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