Ntcham has the steel to power well-honed unit
HAD he not chosen to pursue a passion for football, Olivier Ntcham might have tested his luck in the boxing ring. This childhood fan of Mike Tyson was partial to a spot of pugilism.
He admired the skill and speed of thought required once the gloves were donned. A physique that discourages disagreement wouldn’t have harmed his chance of success.
Built like a super-middleweight, the 21-year-old brought a real presence to the Celtic midfield on his competitive debut. That, in part, was why Brendan Rodgers spent £4.5million on making him the club’s most expensive acquisition in a decade.
‘It is hopefully a signature that allows us to kick on over the next few seasons,’ the Parkhead manager said.
‘I have been looking for this type of player for about a year now.
‘One of the key things I recognised when I came in was that I needed speed and power in the team.’
Ntcham clearly delivers both. Far bigger opponents than Linfield will have to be sent to the canvas to cement his reputation, but the France Under-21 cap boxed pretty clever during his first round in club colours.
As much as anything, the 67-minute outing was an exercise in moving closer to full match-fitness following an hour or so in the weekend friendly against Lyon. Manchester City’s later start to pre-season training left him trailing on that front.
Even so, there were promising signs of what he could offer once at maximum output. Ntcham jabs passes away off his right foot, equally happy to play them short or with a bit of extra air. There were moments when his ambition wasn’t quite matched by his accuracy but he looked very comfortable as the newest component within a well-honed unit.
Ntcham effectively replaced Stuart Armstrong from Celtic’s line-up for last Friday’s 2-0 win in Belfast. That may yet be a sign of things to come.
With the Scotland man having failed to agree a contract extension amid English interest, there could soon be a need to replace one strong-running, box-to-box midfielder with another.
Certainly, that is a role Ntcham can fill with ease. But he is equally comfortable further forward as a No 10, in the spot Tom Rogic filled last night. He was eager to push forward and threaten Linfield from the edge of their area. That intent was a huge factor in both Scott Sinclair goals.
For the first, after just four minutes, Ntcham’s low drive from outside the area was blocked by visiting defender Mark Stafford. When the ball spun loose, Sinclair was first on the scene to clip it into the net.
This willingness to throw a punch from distance was evident throughout the opening period. Confidence isn’t in short supply.
The second Sinclair strike came after a Ntcham through-ball was deflected into the winger’s path. Again, not a conventional assist as such, but his presence disrupted a deep-sitting defence to a positive effect.
Before making way for Armstrong midway through the second period, Ntcham also offered glimpses of another side of his game. One tracking challenge on Robert Garrett near the touchline drew an approving ovation.
Regardless of any player’s gifts, that intensity of work-rate is a prerequisite among Rodgers’ demands.
The tactical experience Ntcham gained during two years on loan to Genoa in Serie A will have been good for his development. Like most in City’s youth ranks, progression to the first team became the impossible dream. He cost the super-rich English club around £800,000 when he joined as a 16-year-old from Le Havre.
That was the same academy that Paul Pogba once called home. Indeed, Ntcham views Manchester United’s £89m man — three years his senior — as something of a role model.
‘Pogba is an example to follow,’ he once said. ‘I met Pogba when I played against him for Genoa v Juventus. He told me he’d often been told about me in relation to his journey. He said to keep going like this and not to let go.’
Ntcham’s journey has now taken him to Celtic Park. Watching his next steps will be one of the more fascinating aspects of the season ahead.