BRENDAN BACKS OLI

BRENDAN RODGERS is backing Olivier Ntcham to be a £4.5million bargain.

The French midfielder was the Celtic manager’s top signing of the summer when he arrived from Manchester City.

Ntcham struggled to make an impact in the 2-2 draw against Hibs yesterday, but Rodgers admitted he was not overly-concerned.

The Hoops boss said: “You have to remember he’s only 21.

“But he has big talent and ability and you have to give players time.

“He is only just through the door and he will get better and improve.”

Ntcham looked off the pace for the first half-hour or so of the midweek 3-0 Champions League win over Anderlecht in Brussels.

But he produced a killer pass seven minutes from the interval that carved open the Belgians’ defence for Kieran Tierney to set up Leigh Griffths for the breakthrough strike.

And it was Ntchman who snapped into a challenge to intercept a loose pass late in the game to send Scotty Sinclair on his way to the third goal.

It didn’t work for him against Neil Lennon’s outfit, but there will be days ahead when he will show why Rodgers brought him to the champions.