Celtic manager Neil Lennon has refused to write off Efe Ambrose’s chances of facing Juventus in the Champions League next week despite booking his place in the African Nations Cup final.
Ambrose and his Nigeria team-mates will face Burkina Faso on Sunday evening, placing a question mark over his availability for the first leg of the last-16 clash at Parkhead.
Lennon concedes the versatile defender is a doubt but will give him every opportunity ahead of Tuesday’s European outing.
“Nigeria did fantastically well and Efe has played brilliantly in the game so I’m delighted for him in one way, but obviously very frustrated in another.
“The final is on Sunday and he probably won’t get back until Monday evening, so he would be a doubt.
“We will get him into the squad and see how he is feeling.”
Better news for Lennon is the likelihood that James Forrest and Fraser Forster will both be available for the visit of the Italian side.
Forrest has had a scan after returning to Celtic Park early from Scotland duty, having made his return from a hamstring injury against Raith Rovers last weekend.
Lennon said: “He’s just having a wee problem with his hamstrings at the moment. He came off again on Sunday feeling a bit tight.
“He went away with Scotland and had a scan on Tuesday back in Glasgow. There was nothing on the first reading so we are hopeful he will be all right.”
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