JUST NTCHAMP-ION

Olivier Ntcham is on the A-train to success with Celtic

- Tony Connelly

OLIVIER Ntcham’s quality has never been in doubt, and the talented midfielder has enthralled Celtic fans with moments of brilliance throughout his time in the Hoops. The French midfielder feels he has a lot more to offer, though, and is confident the extra training he has been putting in will pay off in the form of consistency.

Whether it be goals in the Champions League, Europa League, Scottish Cup final or a Glasgow derby winner, Ntcham has shown his ability to rise to the big occasions time and time again.

Securing a regular starting place in the Celtic midfield, however, has been the toughest challenge for the 23-year-old. The competitiveness throughout the entire squad is remarkable at the moment and nowhere is that more so than in midfield.

Callum McGregor and Scott Brown have been inspirational in the centre of the pitch, while Ryan Christie has been in sensational form since breaking into the team this time last year.

Making a claim for one of those positions is Ntcham’s focus now. That’s not to say he has hardly featured this season – he’s made 19 appearances this season – but 10 of those have been as a substitute.

In a bid to convince Neil Lennon to include him in the starting XI more frequently, Ntcham has been putting in the work with extra training to ensure he makes the biggest impact possible when he is in the side.

“The manager and coaching staff trust me to train myself,” he said. “I don’t always need to ask them. I will check with them sometimes because I’m not going to do extra work one day before a game and not be fresh for the match.

“I think the manager has been pleased to see me put in the work. It benefits not only me but the rest of the team because hopefully it makes me a better player.