HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON insists reputations count for nothing with him — and he will happily anger anyone who believes they should. The Ireland gaffer named a much-changed squad for the summer friendlies with Senegal and Luxembourg on Wednesday as he looked to give Championship players the summer off. But he name-checked one regular call-up who has seen little time during his reign as a key man for next month — Adam Idah. The Celtic hitman notched his 20th goal of the season in midweek against Aberdeen to continue his fine form since moving to Scotland 18 months ago. But it is fair to say that he has been slow to win over Hallgrimsson. He started his first game in charge against England last September when the Icelander leaned heavily on assistant John O’Shea when selecting his team. But for the five games when he has been available since then, the former Norwich City man has played just 41 minutes. And the Cork native has also been an unused substitute in two of those matches. He responded with the winner against Bulgaria in his March cameo, scoring the decisive goal in a 2-1 second-leg triumph. And he gave everyone an indication to his prior frustration by holding his finger to his lip to shush the critics. Hallgrimsson loved it, even if the celebration may have also been directed at him and his selection calls. Responding to the celebration, Hallgrimsson said: “I smiled. “We spoke before the game and I knew he was not happy. That was the reaction I really wanted from him, ‘Show me’, make your feet do the talking’.” And Hallgrimsson likened Idah’s frustrations to those endured by fellow forward Evan Ferguson. The Meath lad made an impact with a goal against Finland last November having been left out of the team early on in the Icelander’s reign. He added: “Evan was not happy and not playing at the start but that is the reaction we want. “That’s what everyone, all the players should be . . .  “I don’t want to say ‘unhappy’. They shouldn’t be happy being on the bench or not being in the squad. “Once they get the chance, that’s their chance to prove a point. It’s not in the media or on social media. It’s on the pitch. “It shouldn’t be a given that you are in the national team, you have to earn it no matter your age or where you’re playing. “It shouldn’t automatically get you a spot on the national team. “I have given credit to Stephen Kenny to have selected a really young squad in the past. “We are benefitting from his selections as these guys have played 20 or 30 matches. “But there is also a negative side to that one. “If you are presented with a prize too early, you think that is your God-given right to be there because you have played through the tough times. Sometimes it’s a negative if you are rewarded too early. It can affect you. “You may stop progressing and think that you have made it. “There are pros and cons to everything in life but we are really happy that these guys started to play that early.” DIFFERENT VIEW While striker Idah could feel his form improving going into the March games — he was starting regularly for Celtic in Scotland and in the Champions League — Hallgrimsson took a different view. Idah suggested last week that Brendan Rodgers’ team’s dominance of possession means different expectations on him at club level to international level. But the Ireland boss highlighted how Idah’s strengths can make him undroppable in his team if he delivers performances on a consistent basis. Hallgrimsson revealed: “He is probably the most physical of our strikers. “It’s important to have physicality up front in some games. “He brings goals and confidence from being a champion in Scotland and scoring goals. “That’s what he brings to us. “We need physical presence up there against teams like Senegal. “That is where I think he can develop a little bit better and keeping the ball up there for us.” “He is always giving 100 per cent and you never know where that leads." Idah’s physical presence can offer Ireland a different dimension in attack. But Hallgrimsson has also added something similar in his midfield with new call-ups. New boys John Joe Patrick Finn of Stade Reims and St Mirren’s Killian Phillips are both over 6ft — 6ft 4in and 6ft 2in respectively. Since Hallgrimsson has taken charge, the midfield duo selected whenever both are fit has been 5ft 9in Josh Cullen and 5ft 8in Jason Knight. Whether big is better than small is up for discussion. But Hallgrimsson acknowledged it is not just fans who have felt Ireland have lost too many games in the trenches. Icelander Hallgrimsson said: “I felt at times we needed to win more duels than we did. When I came, I had in my mind, the Irish would never lose a duel. That was my presumption. With the Irish, that was something I wouldn’t need to worry about. “But it is the opposite when I look at the stats. “Everyone else probably comes to our games thinking that way. We need to win the duels. It goes against us. “That is one thing that we have analysed that was missing but it has come back in the last camp. It was really good in that sense. “We just need to be a little bit more aggressive than we have been.” Knight is in the squad next month having been in play- off action for Bristol City up until this week but Cullen has the summer off having finished on May 3 with Burnley. Phillips — on loan from Crystal Palace at St Mirren — is sure to make his debut, with Hallgrimsson keen to see what he can do.He beamed: “I don’t know what his limit is. “But I really like these players who are so motivated like him. “He is always giving 100 per cent and you never know where that leads. “Every day, he is pushing himself and if you do that every day, you improve. “It is the attitude that we would like to see. “I think that kind of represents Ireland in a sense. “Hard-working and honest people.”