Olivier Ntcham has embraced the “commitment” that he has witnessed since his arrival at Celtic this summer, but the midfielder has shown a fair bit of responsibility himself.

It is not just the 22-year-old’s willingness to embrace the more robust elements of the British game but rather his endeavour off the pitch that has marked him out.

The midfielder has employed a coach that he first began work with as a teenager in Paris in order to work on the small matters of his game and increase his overall physicality. That has meant extra hours a couple of times a month going over in minute detail his Celtic performances in order to raise the level.

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“I am a lot different as a player from when I came here at first,” said Ntcham. “I was fit but not like today. At the beginning of the season I couldn’t play three games in a row. It was maybe two, rest one, another two again.

“It is true you can never get to the top until you can do that. If you want to perform you have to play a lot of games and you have to know your own body. If you want to perform at the top level for a club like Celtic you have to be able to perform regularly.

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“I am training more because I have a second coach from Paris called Reda Bekhti, who comes over to help me and that has helped me to adapt to the Scottish game. In Italy, I was only playing one game a week but here we were playing three games.

“It was a big change for me and the club were supportive of me bringing him in. He comes over to Glasgow two or three times a month to work with me.

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“He works with me on my position and my use of the ball in games as well as my game understanding. I have known him since I was only 13 as he was my coach back in Paris, so I trust him to be able to help me.

“We have kept in touch over the years and he is always there to help me. He gives me a lot of confidence. He watches all my matches and he tries to pass on advice. He can see what aspects of my game I have to improve on.”

If Ntcham has required a role model in terms of how to embrace the physical elements of the Scottish game he does not have far to look.

Playing alongside Celtic captain Scott Brown, Ntcham smiled when he asked about what he has learned so far his fellow midfielder.

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“I have learned a lot from Scott,” he said. “He has such commitment, his aggression and tackling and when I see that I want to do the same as he does. Here is like England, just about the commitment, the way you play, everyone can understand whether you are a lazy player, it is just about your commitment.

“The manager has shown confidence in me. And on the pitch I need to give him the right response back.”

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Ntcham himself looks as though he relishes some of the battles that the game gives rise to but he has married that to an elegance and grace on the ball that offers reminisces of Victor Wanyama’s time at Celtic.

“It will be a tough game for us because Motherwell always gave us a difficult game,” said the Frenchman. “They fight for every single ball, they run their socks off and we know how tough this will be. I enjoy the physical battle in games, so I always love the matches we have with Motherwell. “It is a good test for players and one we thrive on. Teams like Hearts and Motherwell are physical but we are strong enough to cope with that and we have shown that throughout the season.”

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While the French contingent has offered Ntcham an element of comfort this season as he has settled into a new city and a new culture, the player is hoping that there will be a few of his native voices heard at Lennoxtown next season.

There is a strong suspicion that this summer could see striker Moussa Dembele head off and while Celtic remain keen on pursuing their clause in Odsonne Edouard’s deal, talks with his parent club PSG are ongoing.

“I hope Odsonne comes back to the club next season,” he said. “It was a good choice by him to come to the club and play some games for a club like this. He played well and I think he can see the way myself and Moussa have improved shows why he should come back. He has said he would like to come back but it isn’t up to us, it will be up to the club.”