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NEIL LENNON insists Efe Ambrose will rank as one of the best Hibs players ‘for quite a considerable time’ and would ‘walk into’ any other team in Scotland.
The much-criticised on-loan Celtic defender has been named the Ladbrokes Championship player of the month for March thanks to a string of impressive displays for the Easter Road side.
Lennon was convinced the 28-year-old – frozen out at Celtic this season under Brendan Rodgers – would prove a major signing coup when he recruited him on loan from his old club.
And the Hibs boss, who signed the Nigeria internationalist for Celtic in 2012, believes Ambrose has shown the kind of form that every other team in Scottish football would covet.
He said: “I think he is probably one of the best players Hibs have seen here for quite a considerable time and I think the Hibs fans appreciate the quality of player he is.
“I am glad he has been able to showcase the talent that we all knew he had.
“He has been through the ringer. Sometimes, players at some clubs can be made a scapegoat and Efe certainly came under that bracket, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad player.
“It’s no disgrace not to get into that Celtic team at the moment. They are setting the bar really high.
CONFIDENCE
“He has come in to Hibs and done exactly what I thought he would do.
“Obviously, Brendan had his own ideas. He’s got good centre-halves in there.
“If Efe doesn’t get a move, I am sure he will try again to force his way back into the team at Celtic. He’s got the strength of character to do that.
“I don’t think he ever lacked confidence in his own ability – not in an arrogant sort of way, he just liked the thought of proving people wrong.
“And he’s done that. Efe could walk into any other team in Scotland – any other team.”
