Adam Idah made a bizarre 33 minute appearance for Norwich today in what the club has claimed was a planned change.
While some media outlets were spinning the striker travelling with Norwich to a pre-season friendly as some sort of blow to Celtic there is nothing unusual in a player turning out for his club after a loan deal ended.
There was no agreement in the deal struck between Celtic and Norwich in January but the success of the deal made it an obvious move for Celtic to instigate.
With Norwich under new management the landscape at Carrow Road has changed with Johannes Thorup keen to assess all players at the club.
Idah’s season continued after the Scottish Cup Final into two international appearances with his delayed return meaning that he missed out on Saturday’s 3-0 win away to Northampton Town.
Norwich stepped up their preparations in Belgium tonight but it was a limited performance from the striker that Celtic fans are monitoring closely.
Brad Hills replaces Adam Idah in a planned early change.
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 17, 2024
With the greatest of respect planning a 33 minute run out from the start of a match is highly unusual, or unknown.
In the first outing of the season most clubs will make 11 changes at half-time, as Celtic did on July 5 away to Ayr United.
If a player can only manage 33 minutes it would make more sense to bring them on after an hour when most of his opponents will be tiring.
Thorup is bound to be asked about Idah’s 33 minute appearance, no other player had such a detailed schedule with their opening Championship match not due until August 10 away to Oxford United.
Celtic flew out on Tuesday for their three match tour of the USA with Viljami Sinisalo the only new signing involved.
On Sunday Oh Hyeon-gyu moved to Belgian side Genk leaving Kyogo Furuhashi as the only striker with Daizen Maeda and Mikey Johnston the back up options for a testing schedule of facing DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea over seven days.
Nine changes from the boss just after the hour mark.
⚪️ #CLU 3-0 #NCFC 💛 (63) pic.twitter.com/ggzHYo6Gw1
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 17, 2024
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