Celtic coach John Kennedy offers backing to Efe Ambrose

Celtic coach John Kennedy believes Efe Ambrose is beginning to show his worth to the club.

The recent departure of Virgil van Dijk and an injury to summer signing Jozo Simunovic has seen Ambrose return to his preferred centre-back berth.

Celtic have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the process and, although Ambrose was sent off for a foul in the 0-0 draw with Hearts on Saturday, it came in injury-time as he attempted to cover for Dedryck Boyata after he allowed Sam Nicholson to run through on goal.

Simunovic is expected to recover from an ankle injury in time for their Europa League game with Fenerbahce at Celtic Park on Thursday, but Kennedy has backed Ambrose to perform well if he continues to cover in the centre of defence.

"We hope he's okay. He has started light training again so hopefully on Tuesday he will join in the full session and come back into it," Kennedy said of Croatia defender Simunovic.

"But the big positive is Efe has come in and done really well for us. He's been patient.

They have great individual players, they are also a team that's in transition with a new coach and a lot of new players. But they are still a top side.

"He has found himself out of the team when maybe he thought he might have had a chance, but he has trained well and he has certainly come in and done a great job for us in recent weeks. So there is competition there as well."

Ambrose played right-back for Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup but his standing in Deila's plans was evident when the inexperienced Saidy Janko was preferred in the role for the Champions League qualifier in Malmo after Mikael Lustig got injured.

But Ambrose has been given a chance to impress once again and Kennedy was keen to back him.

"He has done it under Neil Lennon for a long time," added Kennedy. "He has made some errors in the past, as all players do. He has probably been unfortunate at times to find himself out the team.

"But he is a great professional, a terrific player to work with, and when he concentrates he can put in good performances like he has shown in recent weeks."

As far as the game against Fenerbahce is concerned, Kennedy is expecting another tough game after a late Ajax equaliser meant Celtic had to settle for a 2-2 draw from their opening Group A game in the Europa League.

"Ajax were a big test but this is another top side," said former Celtic defender Kennedy. "It's going to be a tough one.

"Van Persie has been out the team in the past two weeks but judging by the way he has come on and impacted the game, I'd be surprised if he doesn't play on Thursday.

"They have great individual players, they are also a team that's in transition with a new coach and a lot of new players. But they are still a top side. One or two results haven't gone their way but they are still a very, very good side.

"It's going to be a tough section to qualify from, but this is what it's all about, Celtic playing in big games and Thursday is a very big one."