Adam Idah kissed goodbye to his injury nightmare by targeting Premier League promotion after signing a long-term Norwich City deal.
The fit-again Ireland striker has agreed fresh terms with the Canaries to extend his Carrow Road stay until the summer of 2028.
And with his immediate future sorted, the Cork man has vowed to make up for lost time by firing Norwich into the Championship playoff picture.
Idah, 21, has been plagued by injuries over the last 18 months and required two operations on a knee injury.
A prolific scorer for Ireland at youth level, he established himself in Stephen Kenny’s senior team after racing to 13 caps only for injury to stop him in his tracks.
Idah hasn’t played for the Boys in Green since the final World Cup qualifying game - a win in Luxembourg - in late 2021.
But having scored on his first Championship start of the season on New Year’s Eve, the forward is ready to drive on for club and country.
Idah said: “The last year-and-a-half have been tough but I came back and worked hard and now the club are showing a lot of faith in me by rewarding that hard work.
“I'm over the moon. I love this club. I've been here since I was 15/16 and there’s a path for me to progress and be a better player. It was a no-brainer once the offer came in.”
And in a major boost for Kenny ahead of next month’s Euro 2024 qualifier with France, Idah insists he is going from strength to strength after that injury woe.
Since scoring that goal against Reading on December 31, he has got another four appearances under his belt for Norwich.
And eager to impress new Canaries manager David Wagner, Idah’s sights are fixed on a playoff with seventh-placed Norwich well in the hunt and only three points off third.
"Right now, my fitness is at a good level,” he said.
“When I came back from my second surgery I knew I had to work really hard to get back fully fit. I’m feeling confident and the team is doing well at the moment.
"The new coach is transparent with us and we’re all on board with what he wants to try and do. Everyone has taken it on board and you can see the results on the pitch.”
Idah added: "The biggest thing for me is the intensity in training. There’s no slacking and he wants us to be 100% all the time.
“He’s good off the pitch too. You can speak with him and have a laugh but on the pitch it is a serious business.
"The main goal for us is to try and get promoted and I want to finish the season off as best as I can."
Norwich appointed Wagner - the former Huddersfield and Schalke manager - as Dean Smith’s successor on January 6.
And the German has revealed how a fit-again Idah will be central to his playoff and promotion plans across the second half of the season.
Wagner said: “Adam is a player that I was very much aware of prior to joining. He has a raw, natural ability and we’re really looking forward to working further with him.”
Norwich’s sporting director Stuart Webber added: “Adam still has a lot of room for development and we’re invested in making him the player we know he can be.
“It’s important he now remains fit and becomes a top professional. When he achieves that, I’ve no doubt big success will follow.”
