NO OLD PALS’ ACT AS CELTIC CULT HERO MAKES LOSING START

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CELTIC cult hero Efe Ambrose has signed for his SEVENTH Scottish club after agreeing a short-term deal with Queen of the South.

The experienced campaigner made a quickfire debut in last night’s League Cup match against East Fife at Palmerston which ended in a goalless draw before the Fifers won 5-3 on penalty-kicks.

It was expected the 34-year-old Nigerian international defender would join up up with former Hoops star Paul Hartley at Cove Rangers after his recent training sessions with the third-tier side.

TRUE GRIT…Efe Ambrose battles for a loose ball with Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano in a Champions League encounter in 2012.

Ambrose even turned out for the Highlanders in a pre-season friendly and it looked as though he would be signing on for the new campaign.

The unpredictable back-four performer, who played only two games for Brendan Rodgers during his first spell at the Hoops, won four titles in his 150 appearances at Parkhead following his £1million arrival from Israeli club FC Ashdod on the August deadline day in 2012.

Neil Lennon bought Ambrose and fielded him at right-back and central defence, but the player was on his way when Rodgers took over from Ronny Deila in May 2016.

The 51 times-capped international utility star moved to Blackburn Rovers and then Hibs on loan with the switch to Easter Road becoming permanent when he linked up again with Lennon. He spent three seasons in Edinburgh before a bizarre move to Derby County in February 2019. He never made a solitary first-team appearance for the English Championship outfit.

Following a lengthy spell out of the game, Ambrose returned to Scotland with Livingston in February 2020 and spent over a year in West Lothian.

Ambrose returned to the top flight with St Johnstone and then moved on loan to Dunfermline.

Last season, he was in the Championship with Morton and played in the Cappielow side’s 5-0 Scottish Cup loss at Parkhead.

Now Ambrose is ready to go again with the League One Dumfries club and, speaking on the club’s website, said: “I’m happy to be joining Marvin Bartley at Queens and to get back amongst a squad. When I got the call, I jumped at the chance to sign.

“I’m looking forward to joining the rest of the boys and, hopefully, my experience and knowledge will add value to the team.”

Gaffer Bartley said: “With the injuries and suspensions we have just now, we needed to add to the squad and I’m grateful Efe has joined on a short deal.

“He is someone I have known for a long time, so I know what he brings and what we will get.

“We have a lot of talented young players, but we are currently short of senior heads. Efe will give us that experience. He is also a great character to have around the dressing room.”

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