Kris Boyd believes that Olivier Ntcham has been incredibly disappointing for Celtic in recent weeks, and would be keen to leave the Hoops.
It is perhaps down to the international break interrupting their momentum earlier in the month, but the feeling around Celtic at this moment does not reflect how the Hoops went into their clash with Kilmarnock at the weekend off the back of a run of five wins and two draws in their previous seven games.
The playing style has perhaps been underwhelming – especially in comparison with some of the stunning football that has been played for much of Rodgers’ tenure at Parkhead – and the defeat to Killie now leaves Celtic six points off top spot in mid-table.
Several players have not found their best form at the start of this season, and some would probably argue that Ntcham is definitely one player who has disappointed. And Boyd suggested that he believes that the midfielder’s form is a sign that he is now ready to leave the Bhoys.
“Ntcham was excellent up to the first four games. Since the transfer window shut and Moussa Dembele has gone, he looks a shadow of what he was.”
In fairness to Ntcham, it was his goal that settled the first Old Firm meeting of the season at the start of the month. He obviously made a mistake against St Mirren, but he has the quality to turn his form around dramatically.
And Celtic as a team have more than enough ability to get back on track in the very near future. If this proves to be the Hoops’ lowest point of the campaign, then it would still be difficult to imagine any team being able to stop the champions retaining their crown come the end of the season.
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