The Hibernian boss is full of admiration for the Sunderland-linked centre-back.
The fact that Sunderland are tracking a player whose deal to join Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers fell through just a few weeks ago speaks volumes about the lack of financial backing at the Stadium of Light.
According to The Chronicle, manager David Moyes travelled to Easter Road recently to watch Celtic loanee Efe Ambrose put in a Man of the Match performance for Hibernian. Yet, stand-out displays in the Scottish second tier hardly offer much encouragement that he could shore up the Premier League’s third worst defence.
However, while Black Cats supporters won’t be too enthusiastic about these latest links, Hibs boss Neil Lennon’s gushing praise suggests that Ambrose is a better player than most give him credit for.
“He is playing right back, he is not a bona fide right back but I can trust him in that position and at centre half he has been superb,” Lennon, who stood by the Nigerian international even when he was made a scapegoat by Celtic supporters, told the Daily Record.
“I think this has been good for both parties, I think it’s been excellent for Efe to get his profile back in the right manner, a positive manner – and show Scotland, Britain, Europe and the people back home in Nigeria what a class act he is.”
A divisive player among Celtic supporters, many lauded Ambrose’s professionalism and never-say-attitude though he was often undermined by crucial mistakes in high-profile encounters, particularly in the Champions League.
Yet, it may be a little harsh to judge a defender on his performances against Europe’s best. Sunderland are crying out for a stabilising influence in their back four and, if Lennon’s opinion is anything to go by, he would be a far better acquisition than Papy Djilobodji.
Although, admittedly, that is not saying much.
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