Adam Idah has been told if he wants to make the grade at Celtic, he must show more 'aggression' in his game.
That's the view of former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend.
The 61-year-old is pleased the ex-Norwich City man is doing the business for the national team, having scored the winner in their recent 2-1 victory over Bulgaria.
However, Townsend believes Idah has been guilty of 'coasting' through too many matches while playing for the Scottish Premiership champions.
"I’ve watched a lot of Adam Idah and he got those goals at Villa Park that night, but I think he needs to find an edge to his game," Townsend told OLBG. "He needs to find aggression in his game. I don't mean going around chucking elbows in people's faces, because anyone can do that. You don't have to be any good to do that.
"I think he just needs to believe in himself a little bit more and he needs to add a little bit more aggression in his game. I mean, aggression in the way that he runs. Aggressive in terms of demanding the ball in the box when he gets a chance to shoot, showing a bit more aggression.
"As I said, in his running, sometimes I watch him and I kind of see him sort of coasting a little bit. He's got all the tools, Adam.
"There have been lots of players like him over the years with a great physique and quick enough, he should be able to do a little more than he does.
"I think that there's potentially a dangerous player in there, but I don't think a coach will get it out of him. I think the only one who gets it out of him is himself. I think he has to recognise that the years start to tick by, opportunities don't come at you forever, and he needs to find a bit more edge to his game.
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"Daizen Maeda, he runs, when he runs, he runs with intent to make something happen. When he runs to close someone down, he goes at them 100 miles an hour with the sole purpose of trying to get the ball and if he has to do another one a second later and then another one 20 seconds after that, then he will do it.
"I don't see enough of that from Adam. I think Adam needs to go for it a bit more. I think if he can do that, if he can demand a bit more of himself, then I still think there's another gear that he can find.
"Whether it will be enough to keep him at Celtic as their number nine, I'm not sure, but he could certainly become, for Ireland, a more significant player.
"He will then find there will be other good opportunities for him from other clubs, he needs a little bit more edge and an aggressive nature to his game."
