Celtic’s Efe Ambrose puts Juve wobble behind him

Efe Ambrose speaks to the press ahead of the clash with Cliftonville. Picture: SNS

Ambrose may have ambitions to pull the strings in Celtic’s engine room but, with new signings Virgil van Dijk and Steven Mouyokolo injured and not yet at optimum fitness respectively, his immediate future would appear to lie in the heart of Neil Lennon’s rearguard.

It is not, of course, a new role for the versatile Nigeria star but it is one which provided him with the worst moments of his career in Scotland.

Five months ago, Ambrose was pitched straight into Celtic’s starting 11 for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 match against Juventus at Parkhead in spite of having returned from South Africa, where Nigeria had won the Africa Cup of Nations, earlier that morning.

The 24-year-old certainly appeared jet-lagged and was culpable for two of the goals in his team’s 3-0 defeat. His decision to pronounce himself fit to play was criticised by team-mate Kris Commons, but Wilson defended Ambrose.

It was not the first time that the Englishman, who endured a troubled start of his own after arriving from Nottingham Forest, had come to his aid.

Forest had a £1.5m offer for Wilson rejected at the weekend (“A bid came in on Friday and they leaked it to the BBC 20 minutes later – which we weren’t delighted about,” said Lennon) and Ambrose would prefer his friend to remain in order to help him banish the memory of that botched Italian job. “We played well but a couple of mistakes from me spoiled it, for sure,” he said. “But I never put it in my head: it just made me a better player. I need to do better next time and make sure it won’t happen again.

“Thanks to the manager and my team-mates, who supported me throughout. When I was down they raised me up and made me a strong person.

“They stood by me, the manager, Kelvin, the rest of the team. It happens in football and it was just unfortunate that it had to be me.

“I’ve got an understanding with Kelvin. He guided me through when I came in. Interest from England is good, because it shows that he’s a good player and is very important, that’s why people are looking at him.

“We’ve been playing a lot together in central defence in the last year, so we have a good understanding and communication. It’s been great playing alongside him and it’s made me a better player because I’m the new one in that partnership.

“At the same time, you have to wish him well, if he’s staying, if he’s going. Well, Celtic will have a player who can step into his shoes and make it a better team again.”

Even though Nigeria’s involvement in this summer’s Confederations Cup in Brazil effectively reduced his rest and recreation period to less than a fortnight. Ambrose believes that his appearances in the competition will prove beneficial for both himself and Celtic in the forthcoming campaign.

He came up against Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani as well as Fernando Torres and Roberto Soldado of Spain and he is convinced that experience will stand him in good stead.

“I feel great and ready to go again,” he said. “It was a short break for me over the summer but I knew what I was going into and I prepared myself for it.

“I had the Confederations Cup then a couple of weeks off. But I was prepared to go right back into Champions League qualifiers and friendly games with Celtic.

“Back in Nigeria, I did my own pre-season and trained really hard. I wanted to get myself fit so when I came back I’d be ready.

“I’m not concerned about fitness now, I’m ready to play. It has helped me playing over the summer in the Confederations Cup.

“Playing against top teams will help me and make me better than I was last season. I believe this season will be different for me at Celtic.

“It was a great experience in Brazil. It’s always a good feeling to represent my country and Africa. At the same time, it was great to play against some of the best players in the world.

“The most important thing is to improve yourself as a player and I want to do that in preparation for the World Cup next year.

“It’s becoming a bigger tournament now and everyone wants to be involved in it. To get that opportunity is something I’ll never forget as a young player in the early stages of my career.

“It should help me if we reach the Champions League group stages again. That’s our aim, to do better than we did last year – and I believe we can. We’ll see where it takes us this year.

“My first season at Celtic was good, but this year I’ll understand things a bit better. I want to work harder than last season to become a better player and make sure I can help Celtic improve as a team.

“We want to be at the top of the table again and do even better in the Champions League.”

Key battles

GARY HOOPER v JAIMIE McGOVERN

Many Celtic fans may be surprised that Hooper returns to Neil Lennon’s squad for the game. The Parkhead club and QPR have reportedly been in negotiations about the sale of the English striker but he will feature against the Irish part-timers after recovering from a groin strain. Hooper’s penalty box prowess is unquestionable and he will be looking for the goal or goals that might get his move to England over the line. Hooper will probably be watched by McGovern, a converted right-back who previously played for Glentoran. McGovern has been a revelation since moving into the middle of the Reds defence, not the tallest but useful in the air.

SCOTT BROWN v RYAN CATNEY

Brown played his first 90 minutes since last season’s Scottish Cup final last week in Belfast and came through unscathed. Back in the Scotland squad for the challenge match against England at Wembley next month, he will be looking again to show the enthusiasm, pace and power which he can bring to the Celtic midfield. In the red corner, Catney is a dynamic, combative player, very similar to his central midfield partner Barry Johnston, who is not afraid of a tussle. But Brown will make sure his night is no less energy-sapping than it was last week.

EFE AMBROSE v LIAM BOYCE

The Nigeria international was given an extended summer break after appearing in the Confederations Cup but had to cut it short last week after manager Lennon found himself short of defenders for the trip to Northern Ireland. The big stopper slotted in alongside Kelvin Wilson and played for the most part with assurance. Cliftonville’s hopes of getting a goal in Glasgow probably rest with Boyce, who was last season’s leading scorer in the Northern Irish top flight. He had few chances to shine in the first leg and may have even less in Glasgow.