EFE GETS EURO AXE

EFE AMBROSE has been axed from Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic squad for the Champions League play-offs against Hapoel Be’er Sheva tonight at Parkhead and Tuesday in Israel.

The Nigerian international defender has been left out to free up a space for new signing Dorus de Vries, the keeper who has been added under the competition’s wildcard regulations.

Clubs can change one player in their squad up until 11pm on the night before the first leg of any qualfiying round. 

Despite featuring in two of the four Champions League qualifiers so far, Ambrose has slipped down in the pecking order in the central defensive positions since the arrival of Rodgers.

Dedryck Boyata, Erik Sviatchenko and Kolo Toure are all in the squad for the two legs, while Mikael Lustig and Kristoffer Ajer are also involved and could deputise at centre-back. 

Jozo Simunovic remains injured and is not part of the squad.

Celtic go into the matches against Hapoel with a 24-man main squad.

Rodgers has opted to include only three “club trained” players – Leo Fasan, James Forrest and Callum McGregor – meaning a spot is lost.

Either Kieran Tierney and Eoghan O’Connell could have been included in the main party but they qualify for a secondary list of youth players, leaving them available for selection without being included in the primary squad.