Thread: Fortune's Back

CELTIC have missed out on their Fortune ... but manager Tony Mowbray is delighted that striker Marco will be back in contention for a place this weekend.

The £3.8million summer signing injured knee ligaments playing against Arsenal in the Champions League qualifier back in August.

The striker had struggled to find the net since moving from Nancy. But, Mowbray believes his contribution has only really been noticed since he slipped out of sight.

Unfortunately, tomorrow's game against Hamburg comes just too soon for Fortune. But Mowbray is confident his current progress will allow him to put himself in line for a return against Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park on Sunday.

advertisementThe manager has been frustrated by the lack of chance-taking in recent matches, and believes the absence of Fortune has been a factor in this.

He said: "I don't like making excuses, but we are without Marc-Antoine Fortune at the moment, and we have been for about eight weeks. When he comes back, hopefully he will bring something to the team.

"I believe he took a bit of unfair criticism early on because he wasn't scoring. But the team was winning. We will see what he does bring to the team when he comes back because we have missed him."

Landry N'Guemo also arrived from Nancy in the summer, and the loan signing is desperate to make his move permanent.

The midfielder knows that big performances in games like the ones against Hamburg will encourage Celtic to pay the £1.5million already agreed for his transfer.

And the Cameroon inter-national cannot wait for the chance to lock horns with one of his heroes, Brazilian veteran Ze Roberto.

N'Guemo said: "I have always admired Ze Roberto. He is a very good player and I can't believe he is now 35.

"For a long time he has been successful and he is still very strong. Ze Roberto sits in midfield and controls the game.

"We will have to watch him very closely. But Hamburg have other good players, as well.

"It's a very important match for us. We are looking for our first win in the Europa League and we have to get three points to get off the bottom of the table."

With a World Cup place also on the line in the next few weeks, N'Guemo is relishing a key period in his career.

The man who has just regained his place in the international side after a two-year absence, said: "We have one more game to win and that would guarantee a World Cup place. If that was to happen, it would be more than a dream for me.

"A few years ago, when I first joined Nancy as a teenager, I couldn't even begin to dream about that becoming a reality."

In fact, as he grew up in the village of Dschang in Cameroon, N'Guemo revealed he struggled to believe he would have a professional career, and was encouraged to enrol in university in case it all went wrong.

But his perseverance paid off and how he is reaping the rewards. N'Guemo recalled: "In Africa, there are no grass pitches for young children to play football on. We would play on rocks and stones in our bare feet. We never wore shoes because we were never able to.

"My toes were always bleeding and my legs still have the scars from those days. I have marks all down my shins and on my knee.

"The first time I played in an organised game was when I was 13. I moved to Yaounde and I was picked up by Nancy. It was difficult at first because, in Africa, all the young players like to dribble the ball all of the time."

HE ADDED: "The coaches in France would go mad. They would say, 'No Landry, pass the ball.' I learned about tactics and how to pass the ball. They banned me from dribbling and I was only allowed to pass the ball."

Now those lessons are being put to good use, and N'Guemo told the Celtic View: "Scottish football is different. It's more aggressive and you have to fight for the ball. Only then can you play football."

About fucking time.

Great news.

Originally Posted by Max Raptor

Great news.

Hes been badly missed without doubt. We will see our results coming back now i could bet my life on it. Sad to say but this boy is imperative to the way tony mowbray's teams play

Pity we didn't have him at ipox, would have actually done something with the possession.

Quality.

McGeady and Maloney should be delighted.

When's Fox and Hinkel back?

Originally Posted by L.S.F.

Quality.

McGeady and Maloney should be delighted.

When's Fox and Hinkel back?

Hinkel Is back for the Hamburg game, not sure about Fox.

Good news about Fortune, hopefully this will be the end of Sammy's run in the team.

Originally Posted by L.S.F.

Quality.

McGeady and Maloney should be delighted.

When's Fox and Hinkel back?

Hinkel's fit for hamburg. Fox could also play but should be ok for the weekend. Things are looking up bhoys and ghirls

Originally Posted by Ryan 67

Hinkel Is back for the Hamburg game, not sure about Fox.

Good news about Fortune, hopefully this will be the end of Sammy's run in the team.

To be honest though, what's McDonald done to deserve a place in the team ahead of Samaras? He's a big fairy aye, but he deserves to be there every much as Fatty, IMO.

Living off his first season.

I hate them (McDoughnut and Samantha) both equally but if we go one up top I’d opt for Samantha because he/she plays that role better.

Fucking brilliant news. Welcome back!

Fortune is a great player to have in the team, although he is not a prolific goal-scorer he brings the wide men into the game much more.

Yeah Hinkel is back too.

Originally Posted by Green2thecore

lol, Samantha the hermaphrodite

:blol:
Let's camp it up in here :smooch:

GOOD STUFF

nOTICE HOW OUR POOR FORM COINCIDED WITH HIS DEPARTURE

Originally Posted by Mr Brightside

GOOD STUFF

nOTICE HOW OUR POOR FORM COINCIDED WITH HIS DEPARTURE

Exactly mr brightside spot on

Great news, as long as he is 100% ready, I just hope he's not rushing him back because of the current situation.

hopefully the chuckle brothers can bang a few goals in and we don't need to use him on Sunday.

Another few days rest wont hurt him.

I would NEVER play McDonald or Samaras again.

rather play youngsters

Thank fuck.