OLIVIER NTCHAM insists the return of skipper Scott Brown will be the noost Celtic need before they take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The champions struggled to display their best form against Dundee at Parkhead on Saturday where the £4.5million Frenchman got the only goal of the game.
Brendan Rodgers rested several first team regulars ahead of the Group B match in Germany – including Brown.
Ntcham said: “It is important to have our captain fit again and I hope he is going to play in this game.
“I am very happy for him that he is back.
“He gives us a real team spirit. He is always fighting and refuses to ever give up. He is always on the ball and trying to get us going.
“Even if he doesn’t have it, he will always try and win it back. It’s really good to have him. Without him in the team, the same feeling on the pitch is not there. .
“He helps me a lot. There have been times when things have not been so good, maybe when I have not felt comfortable, and he encourages me.”
Ntcham started the match against Anderlecht poorly last month before recovering and helping to set up the opening goal with a superb pass to Kieran Tierney who set up Leigh Griffiths. He was also involved in the third which was claimed by Scotty Sinclair.
The 21-year-old revealed how Brown helped him come good as Celtic
eventually won 3-0.
He added: “At the start of the match against Anderlecht, I even surprised myself.
“I felt I was missing everything and not getting things right. But some days can be like that. Other days, it seems everything you do is good.
“I then had a pass that helped to set up the first goal so that gave me a bit of confidence.
“Scott helped me to get through that difficult start to the game in Brussels. He was vocal and kept me going in the right direction. Does he say it nicely? Well, you know what it’s like on the pitch! No, I’m just joking.”
A Celtic State of Mind offers an insight into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Each episode includes interviews with ‘Celtic-minded’ figures from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature or politics.
This week, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ speaks to esteemed Celtic author and historian, David Potter.
With his 27th release – The Invincibles – recently published, David has written more books on Celtic than anyone else, and he is one-third of that holy trinity of club historians – Campbell, Potter & Woods.
Interestingly, those three authors have never collaborated on a Celtic book together, but David suggests that it is a concept he would welcome…
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes and @CQNMagazine.
David Potter’s new book Celtic The Invincibles 2016-17 is available now from cqnbookstore.com
