Spearheading Swansea's promotion charge at the forefront of Adam Idah's mind

AMBITION: Adam Idah. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Adam Idah believes he can lead the Irish colony at Swansea City back to the Premier League.

The Corkman moved from Celtic before the recent transfer deadline to bolster the bid of compatriot Alan Sheehan to secure promotion in his first full season at the helm.

Idah’s switch was smoothed by the presence as Sheehan’s assistant of Darren O’Dea, the former Ireland international he’d worked with at Celtic.

It’s seven years since the Welsh club were part of the top-flight but a strong start has them seventh in the Championship table ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against newly-promoted Birmingham City.

Their €8m recruit Idah made his debut off the bench in last Saturday’s home fixture against Hull City – when they were denied victory by John Egan’s late equaliser – before starting the midweek Carabao Cup triumph over Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest.

Having tasted promotion with Norwich City four years ago, he feels the Swans are positioned to mount a tilt at returning to the top table.

"Before signing, I spoke to Darren O'Dea and the manager, and that's the big aim - to get back to the Premier League," said the 24-year-old.

"It's always something I said I wanted to do - to go back there because it's the best league in the world. Coming to a club like Swansea is a great step for me to do it.

"I said to the boys that it’s a similar feeling to when we got promoted with Norwich.

"I think there's real belief in the changing room, amongst the staff and everyone around it that we can do something special this season, so it's about going and doing the business now."

Idah is competing for a starting slot in attack against Zan Vipotnik, the Slovenian who recently combined with new Manchester United arrival Benjamin Šeško to earn a 2-2 World Cup qualification draw with Sweden.

Vipotnik came off the bench against Forest to score his fifth goal in his past five Swansea appearances.

“That's the best problem to have," Idah said about the competition.

"Zan has been in fine form and hopefully that continues.

"We all want to get to the Premier League and we are all in it together.

“I think the competition we have in every position is brilliant. If we are all pushing each other, that's a good start."