Doumbe seeks long-term contract

Celtic hero Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe has set his sights on a long-term deal with the club after his first senior goal clinched the club's 34th Tennent's Scottish Cup triumph.

The Cameroon international right-back capped a remarkable turnaround in his fortunes at Parkhead by poking home an 85th-minute winner against Dunfermline.

It was a rare foray into the penalty box for a player who just one month ago was a forgotten figure at Celtic Park.

The 28-year-old arrived on loan from Rennes in January but did not make his debut until April 29 — after Celtic had clinched the Bank of Scotland Premier League title.

His elevation to the first team was a result of the absence of any other experienced right-backs on Celtic's books.

Paul Telfer returned to his family in the south of England before his contract ended and a knee injury deprived Celtic manager Gordon Strachan of Mark Wilson.

Strachan tried central defender Gary Caldwell at right-back but the Scotland player himself admitted he would never shine in the position.

Perrier Doumbe played the last four SPL games of the season but even then he was only a substitute at Ibrox as Caldwell was preferred for the Old Firm derby against Rangers.

Strachan surprised many by naming Caldwell on the bench at Hampden and putting his faith in the Paris-born defender.

But such confidence was repaid in spectacular fashion when Perrier Doumbe slid in to poke home Craig Beattie's deflected cross to seal a 1-0 victory in a tight contest.

Perrier Doumbe said: "I never thought it would happen, it's really incredible. I have never scored a goal before.

"I have scored goals at school but never in a top flight game."

Perrier Doumbe's agreement with Celtic included the option of a two-year contract at the end of his loan spell.

The defender arrived in Glasgow for a trial in January after being forced out of the first-team picture at Rennes by the arrival of former Chelsea full-back Mario Melchiot.

And the former Auxerre player will now sit down with Strachan to try to thrash out a deal to remain in Scotland.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said: "I will talk to the coach this week and hopefully that will go well."

He refused to discuss whether he had other options, with his heart seemingly set on Parkhead.

"At the moment it's just Celtic, that's all I want to talk about," he said.