Ntcham in no rush to decide on allegiance

Olivier Ntcham will take his time before deciding if he will switch international allegiances from France to Cameroon.

The 22-year-old midfielder was born in Longjumeau, France, to parents of Cameroon descent and has represented France at youth level from under-16s to under-21s.

After signing a new contract with Celtic which will keep him at the Parkhead club until at least 2022, Ntcham revealed that Cameroon have made contact but that he was in no hurry to make up his mind.

Cameroon manager Clarence Seedorf is looking to build his Indomitable Lions squad for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Ntcham, sidelined with a hamstring injury at the moment, said: “When you make an important decision like that you have to take your time. I want to take (my) time.

“I am playing for France now. We have a tournament at the end of this season (Under-21s Euro Championships in Italy) so that is what I am focused on.

“I am focused on the pitch and if I have to make a decision I will speak with my family and agent.”

The 22-year-old French midfielder joined the Hoops in July last year from Manchester City, after a two-year loan spell at Italian club Genoa.

He revealed how he coped with interest from Portuguese club Porto in the summer, saying: “I just focused on the pitch. Everything about that was for my agent and family.

“I came here last season and everything was new for me, I had to look around and speak to the manager and get to know him a little bit more.

“I won my first trophy here so I was really happy for that and we made the decision to stay here.”

Ntcham is “delighted” to have signed a new deal with the Scottish champions and admitted that Celtic’s dramatic 2-1 Europa league win over RB Leipzig at Parkhead on Thursday night vindicated his decision to continue his career with the Glasgow club – and he believes they can qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have six points after four Group B fixtures but are behind the Bundesliga club on goal difference with an inferior head-to-head.

With maximum points from their first four games, Austrian outfit Salzburg look almost certain to win the group and they have to travel to Parkhead on match day six, after Celtic have taken on bottom side Rosenborg in Trondheim.

Jozo Simunovic, Cristian Gamboa, Olivier Ntcham, Scott Brown and Leigh Griffiths remain out with various ailments while midfielder Eboue Kouassi and on-loan winger Daniel Arzani are out for the rest of the season due to respective knee injuries.

Livingston manager Gary Holt has injury concerns over defenders Jack McMillan and Ricki Lamie ahead of the visit of the champions.

The pair were both forced off in last weekend’s defeat to Hamilton.

Long-term absentees Lee Miller, Raffaele De Vita (both knee) and Ryan Hardie (ankle) remain sidelined.