Phil SumblerOlivier Ntcham will play one more Swansea game this afternoon before heading off on international duty where he hopes he will take another step towards a possible World Cup place at the end of this year.
The Swans midfielder will join up with the Cameroon team for their World Cup play off against Algeria which will be played over two legs with a place in Qatar being the reward for the winners of the clashes.
Ntcham is a former France Under-21 international but qualifies as his parents are of Cameroonian descent and he will head off to join up with his new international team mates after the game against Birmingham has finished.
Ntcham signed for the Swans last summer and manager Russell Martin is delighted for the call up for his midfielder as he explained at his press conference on Friday “I am really pleased for him,” said the Swans boss.
“He has been in conversation with them for quite a while. When we spoke earlier in the week and he found out he had been called up, we are really proud of him.
“Anyone getting international recognition is fantastic it and this is his first time. He has had a huge impact for us recently off the bench building up his minutes to get him in a good place physically.
“He is such a talented player and is someone who missed pre-season and it becomes a challenge then to play ninety minutes after ninety minutes. He is in a good place mentally and physically.
“He is really excited for the big game internationally and as a big game player hopefully he will get minutes on the pitch.”
