Efe has marked Messi, shackled Sanchez and dumped Drogba. Don’t delete 4 years’ history
Hibs managerbaffled by Lennon Ambrosehits out snipersat critics of loan defenderinsists he’s Ambrose made for signing having coup short memories
hasLenny HIBS boss Neil Lennon urged Celtic loan star Efe
toand Ambrose’s critics not forget he’s a player of Champions League quality.
The Nigerian defender has joined the Easter Road club on an emergency loan deal after his proposed move to Blackburn finally collapsed over work permit issues.
Lennon is thrilled to be reunited with Ambrose, who went on to win six major honours with the Hoops after he brought him to Parkhead in 2012.
The 28-year-old has played just two competitive matches for Celtic this season, both in the Champions League qualifiers – the defeat at Lincoln Red Imps and home draw with Astana.
A series of high-profile gaffes saw Ambrose lose his place in the Hoops team but Lennon is baffled by the Africa Cup of Nations winner becoming a figure of fun.
The Irishman reminded the stopper’s critics he has reached the Champions League last 16 and starred in wins over Barcelona, Ajax and Spartak Moscow.
Ambrose’s highlights for club and country have seen him mark Leo Messi, shackle Alexis Sanchez and defeat Didier Drogba – now Lennon hopes to revive his career as he prepares to hand him a debut tonight.
Lennon said: “He has quality. He has been at Celtic for four or five seasons now and, while it maybe hasn’t gone as well as he would have liked in the last couple of seasons, under me he was fantastic.
“I think the first four years of his time at Celtic have been deleted from history, with the way people talk about him now.
“This is a guy who played in all my Champions League games and made the last 16.
“People always talk about the mistakes he has made of late, the high-profile errors, but we have all made them.
“I have made plenty. I played with Bobo Balde who had a few – but he doesn’t get derided as much as people mock Efe.
“I want to get him back playing and being successful for us then he’ll go back to Celtic full of confidence.
“Efe was a guy who was at the heart of a lot of unbelievable results at Celtic.
“He has won the African Nations Cup with his country so he has great pedigree. He is only 28, he is at his peak and will be fresh because he has not played much football recently.
“We are lucky to get him. It is a coup that he wanted to come.”
Lennon reckons Ambrose’s quality, professionalism and infectious personality in training have already had a positive impact on the Easter Road squad.
The Hibs boss admits the defender is desperate to get back playing in the Championship and is not thinking too far ahead into the future.
Lennon said: “It’s not up to me to decide what Efe’s priority is. I want him to get promotion here and win the Scottish Cup.
“Whether he uses it as a shop window, I don’t know. It is important for him to get some games, regardless of whether it is in the Championship. The profile of the club is high and is making news for him at home. Whether he wants to leave Celtic, or go back to fight for his place, I’ve not had that discussion with him.
“What I do know is I’ve got a very good professional who will be a great example to the rest. His impact has been immediate, there was a zip about training.”
Hibs have also brought in ex-Falkirk and Motherwell ace Brian McLean, subject to international clearance, to bolster their injury-hit defence.
The Easter Road club are without Paul Hanlon, Jordon Forster and Liam Fontaine, who will see a specialist tomorrow to confirm whether he requires ankle surgery.
Lennon said: “Brian is a no-brainer. He’s been playing football at a decent level in Singapore, albeit he hasn’t played for a few months, but it adds some bones to the squad.”
Meanwhile, Grant Holt reckons Darren McGregor’s rise from amateur football to Scottish Cup winner with his boyhood heroes is more of a fairytale story than Leicester star Jamie Vardy’s.
Holt said: “Look at what Darren has done – to be a boy from down in Leith, standing on Leith Walk with the Scottish Cup in his hands. They talk about the Vardy story but if that’s not a story I don’t know what is.”