Celtic fullback Jeremie Frimpong has maintained that his focus is fully on the Parkhead side after he was linked with a January move to Roma.

There was speculation around the 20-year-old, whom Celtic signed from Manchester City for a £300k development fee 18 months ago, going to Italy but Parkhead manager Neil Lennon is reluctant to allow anyone to leave in the upcoming window.

“I am just focussed on Celtic right now,” said the fullback. “I am at Celtic so I am focussed on that.”

If Celtic are to repair the damage done in the opening months of the campaign they will need all players on point. Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths started the Boxing Day game against Hamilton Accies with Lennon optimistic that the duo can recapture the fruitful partnership that they showed from January to Covid-lockdown in March.

Griffiths’ fitness has been the subject of a difference of opinion between the player and his manager but what is not beyond doubt is the natural instinct he has when he is on the pitch.

The Scotland striker moved into elite company at Celtic las month when he made it into the top 20-goalscorers with the Parkhead side and Frimpong is optimistic that that both the Frenchman and Griffiths can spark Celtic into a run of form that would enable them to close the gap on Rangers.

The Ibrox side hold a 16-point lead over Lennon’s side and even with three games in hand still to play, the chasm is sufficient enough to cause concern. As such, every game has an intensity to it with Celtic in the position where they can ill afford to lose further ground.

Certainly, Frimpong has not given up hope.

“They [Griffiths and Edouard] help each other out and it is a massive boost for the team,” said Frimpong.

“In football you can’t win every game,” he said. You will lose some games. It is just football. Anything can happen in football.”

Deployed as both a right wing-back and a right fullback at times this season, Frimpong has insisted he has no real preference for where he plays. However, given that his best return in terms of chipping in with goals in a season is just 2, the bar shouldn’t be too high when it comes to offering more of an attacking threat.

“I think that there is competition every day, even in training,” he said. “Obviously everyone wants to play so there is competition everywhere and that is good for the team because it makes everyone work harder. 

“Right-back or right-wing is the same for me, just one is a bit higher up. I don’t mind. I am comfortable with both roles.”