Ambrose Bids To Put Mistake Against Fenerbahce Behind Him

Celtic defender Efe Ambrose is working to ensure he will never repeat the Europa League "gift" he gave to Fenerbahce.

The 26-year-old Nigeria international spoke about the calamitous mistake he made at Celtic Park earlier in the month which led to Ronny Deila's men throwing away a two-goal lead against the Turkish side.

Strikes by Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons put the Hoops in a commanding position but the match turned just before the break when Ambrose was woefully short with a back header to keeper Craig Gordon, allowing substitute Fernandao to score, with the Brazilian heading a leveller just after the restart.

Ambrose looked ahead to the visit to Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday, where he hopes Euro lessons learned are put into operation.

"It is not easy," he said. "But as a player you sometimes find yourself in those situations "It can happen to anybody not just Efe Ambrose.

"It was a gift for them but the most important thing is the management, the gaffer, the players stood by me. They know it can happen.

"Sometimes in football, when the defender or the goalkeeper makes the mistake, everybody sees it.

"If Craig was able to catch the ball then no one would speak about this, it is not a mistake but the communication between me and Craig was not there.

"I have put that behind me and will work harder to make sure that kind of thing will never happen again, because you learn from your mistakes and I believe I have learned from this and I will move on.

"When you know the team is behind you it picks you up and the gaffer stood by me and I really appreciate that. It is not easy but I am getting back stronger again."

Deila carried out a post-international week assessment of his squad at Lennoxtown but played down the ankle injury picked up by skipper Scott Brown at training today.

The Parkhead boss said: "He twisted his ankle. He has done that before and we will see tomorrow how big that injury is.

"But it is not a major one, hopefully he can play on Saturday."

Griffiths exacerbated a calf injury knocking the ball around on the pitch with the other Scotland substitutes during half-time of the 2016 Euro qualifying draw with Poland at Hampden last Thursday night.

The Hoops striker consequently pulled out of the squad for the Group D finale against Gibraltar in Faro on Sunday.

Deila said: "Leigh has had some problems with a stiff calf for a month now.

"It started before the Ajax game and he got something at the break during the Scotland game. We have had a week on it and it looks okay.

He trained today, for half of it, and hopefully he can be available on Saturday.

"Stuart Armstrong is fit and ready to play again. Jozo Simunovic (twisted ankle) has been training a little bit but it is still too early for him.

"Charlie Mulgrew (thigh) is not ready. He is closer and could be starting training a little bit next week. James Forrest also had a knock but can be available for Saturday."

Asked about former West Ham striker Carlton Cole, who picked up an injury at training before the international break as he looked to win a deal with the Parkhead club, Deila said: "He is here and still not training with a football, so we haven't assessed anything more."