Ngog aims to repay Coyle and rise again

DAVID NGOG believes a reunion with Owen Coyle can help him recapture the promise that once took him to Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. The 28-year-old striker has joined Ross County until the end of the season, with the Highlanders also close to agreeing a loan deal to bring Stoke City defender Harry Souttar to Dingwall. Coyle spent £4million taking Ngog to Bolton from Anfield seven years ago but, although his career has failed to ignite since then, the Frenchman insists he still has the same hunger and burning ambition he had as a young man arriving in England’s top flight from PSG. And the player, who most recently had an injury-hit spell with Panionios in Greece, believes working with Coyle is key to regaining his form and helping County get off the bottom of the Premiership. ‘The coach here was a big part of my decision,’ said Ngog. ‘But I’ve been here a few days and from what I’ve seen of the club and facilities, and having met my team-mates, I feel it is a good project here. ‘It is a good opportunity for me to play. At Panionios, I had a knee injury for a few months. For me, it is about coming back step by step and helping the team achieve their target. ‘I’ve always been ambitious and that doesn’t change now. I am 28 and if my fitness is good, I have many good years ahead of me.’ Despite a lack of match fitness, he did not rule out playing against Motherwell at Fir Park tonight. ‘I’m awaiting international clearance and it’s up to the manager,’ he said. ‘Owen Coyle believed in me when I was at Liverpool and brought me to Bolton Wanderers. I have to thank him for his confidence and now I just want to repay it.’ Coyle was delighted to land Ngog and admitted it could never have happened without his recent injury woes. Acknowledging Ngog had been heavily criticised at one stage in England, he said: ‘This is not a boy who has been criticised down the levels. ‘He’s been criticised while playing at the highest level in the Premier League. ‘He’s a terrific player and it’s up to David now. ‘Given the injury he had, he’s still probably a couple of weeks away from firing on all cylinders. But if he gets to that level, he’s a wonderful player.’ Meanwhile, it is understood former Dundee United centre-half Souttar, 19, who joined Stoke for an initial £200,000 in 2016, is keen to join County until the end of the campaign.