RONNY DEILA has told Nadir Ciftci that he must start “talking with his feet” if he is to get his Celtic career started properly.

The Turk was signed from Dundee United in the summer to a great fanfare and was even given the iconic number seven jersey, a sign then that the manager saw him as his top striker.

Ciftci even began the early European games ahead of Leigh Griffiths in the team, while he served a six-game domestic ban, but he has since lost his place and after two goals in 17 games, the striker has been unable to even get on as a substitute in recent matches.

Last week his agent and former Celtic player, Pierre van Hooijdonk, admitted he was worried for his client because of the lack of game-time afforded to him.

And it does seem that Ciftci has a lot to do to impress his manager who put on Carlton Cole at Inverness ahead of the 23-year-old.

Deila said: “Nadir’s situation is this; it is how it is at big clubs. There is always going to be competition.

“You have to show every day in training and in every match whether you start or get on that you are ready – like Scott Allan did at the weekend.

“Nadir has to speak with this feet and the same can be said about every player.

“We speak all the time. He knows we want him to work hard and he must always look to improve. We know he has the talent.”

One way for Ciftci to get a run of games is if Griffiths played in another position, which he has been happy to do at his former clubs.

And while he can do that, Deila is not so sure about moving around his best goal scorer.

The Celtic boss said: "Leigh could play on the right because he tends to go out that way during a game.

“But, to be honest, I see Leigh as a striker. That is his best position.

"I know it must be hard for Nadir to watch Leigh scoring all his goals at the moment, but he has to be ready when he does get on."

Ciftci'c cause wasn't helped when Emilio Izaguirre needed stitches in his ear after the Turk lashed out at his team-mate following a training ground tackle.