EFE AMBROSE has told opposition fans that they can jeer him all they like – but they won’t get inside his head.

The Nigerian defender was ridiculed in the wake of a number of high-profile mistakes for Celtic and has found himself singled out as a figure of fun for other supporters when he has been introduced into the fray in some games.

He has been back in the Celtic starting line-up in recent weeks due to an injury to Dedryck Boyata – and has acquitted himself relatively well.

And Ambrose has insisted that he has the mental strength to cope with any flak that comes his way.

“I’ve seen this a lot,” he said “For me it’s just football. The only thing you can do is shut them up and the place to do that is on the pitch.

“You have to make them realise it doesn’t matter what they say. It just encourages me to be better on the pitch.

“For me right now it’s about wearing a green and white shirt. The opposition supporters will never affect me. Football is like this. Fans try to get on someone’s back. They pick on someone. Unfortunately recently they have tried to pick on me.

“But they have got the wrong guy. Because I am mentally strong. In the head.”

Ronny Deila publicly criticised Ambrose in the wake of the Fenerbahce game when the Norwegian insisted that the player had to learn to concentrate for the full duration of games after a huge blunder from Ambrose led to Celtic throwing away a two-goal cushion against the Turks.

It is something that Ambrose has insisted he is working on and he believes that Deila has been positive in helping him realise that aim.

“Concentrating on the 90 minutes is not that easy, but I am working on that because it is about the team,” said Ambrose. “For anybody in my position, anybody playing in defence, the most important thing is to concentrate for the 90 minutes, to be aware of what is going on. He has really helped me to do better.

“I am working hard on that every day and I think I am getting better. It is not just one game, it is continuous. The manager has been good for me. He has really helped me to cut out the lapses in concentration from my game.

“When I make a mistake he will call me into his office and make sure I realise it and I will work on it on the training pitch. He really helped me after the Fenerbahce game. I think I have improved a lot on some of the things I have worked on.

“For me, it is important to get better and the way I do that is by working hard on the training pitch and bring that to the game. Right now I am more focused and more determined.”

And Deila himself has backed the professional approach of the defender.

“I am very impressed at the way he is so professional,” said the Celtic manager.

“He is always putting the team before himself and it’s unbelievable to see how much he cares about Celtic.

“He does everything he can to improve the team and squad. Now he’s playing, he’s also doing very well and that’s good.

“Efe is a good guy to have around and he’s never injured. Every game he is available and it is a dream to have a player like that in your squad. Efe deals with the criticism very well.

“When he came on against Hearts and got into trouble in the beginning, he then played with calmness.

“His offensive play has been developed, he doesn’t do so many undisciplined actions as he did before and that’s what he has to develop, to stay concentrated for 90 minutes.

“That’s his biggest challenge and he is doing it well.

“Efe is an important player for the squad and he’s had good games lately.”

*Efe Ambrose was promoting the Clover & Dove ball which takes places on Saturday, 13th February at the Glasgow City Hotel. All funds raised will be shared equally between Celtic FC Foundation and the St Andrew’s Hospice Capital Appeal.