Efe Ambrose netted for Hibernian as they nicked a dramatic draw agaisnt Celtic on Sunday.
It’s fair to say Efe Ambrose had his critics at Celtic. Unfairly or not, the Nigerian centre-back was often made a scapegoat among some sections of the support, his performances in European competition in particular placing him under scrutiny.
So few fans were too disappointed when Ambrose left for Hibernian on a permanent basis this summer after spending an impressive loan spell at Easter Road in 2016/17.
But with Ambrose on the scoresheet as Hibs fought back from two goals down to snatch an impressive draw against Celtic on Sunday, you wonder if Brendan Rodgers is rueing his decision to discard with the defender at the earliest opportunity.
After all, Celtic have struggled with a lack of depth at centre-half all season thanks to injuries suffered by Dedryck Boyata, Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko. Even Nir Bitton, a midfielder by trade, has been forced to drop into a central defensive role to fill the void.
And the Scottish Sun reported recently that Rodgers has made signing a new centre-back his top priority in the January transfer window. While it would be a little churlish to suggest Ambrose would have simply solved this problem, the experienced stopper would at least have provided depth and leadership at the back with Celtic’s squad stretched to the limit.
And it is impossible to ignore just how much Ambrose has improved under his former Celtic boss Neil Lennon at Easter Road. At the age of 29, he appears to have reached his prime and would potentially have been a valuable member of Celtic’s star-studded squad on current form.
The goal on Sunday aside, you wonder whether Ambrose’s displays in recent months have given Rodgers food for thought.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
