European preview: Scotland

Kilmarnock's Ngonge gets away against Hibs

BBC Sport Online's Filippo Maria Ricci continues a regular series previewing the new season for African players in Europe's major leagues by focusing on Scotland's Premier League

The African contingent in Scotland's top flight is only a handful, but was reinforced by the arrival of Congo-Kinshasa's Michel Ngonge after three seasons in England.

The striker scored after only four minutes of his debut for Kilmarnock in a 2-2 draw with Hibernian.

He has played in the first divisions in Belgium and Turkey, as well as one season in the English Premiership with Watford.

Sylla in his last game for St Johnstone

Champions Celtic amazingly have three central defenders of African origin on their books, having bought two in the last month.

Ivorian Momo Sylla was a £600,000 capture from St Johnstone after actually facing Celtic in the first game.

He could link up with Guinea-born Dianbobo Balde, bought from cash-strapped French side Toulouse for £900,000.

Bad starts

Because neither is properly integrated yet, strong but inconsistent Ivorian Olivier Tebily has started the first two games, both victories.

Another central defender, Youssef Rossi at Dunfermline, missed the start of the season amid rumours that he was trying to line up a transfer.

Rossi has upset Dunfermline

His Moroccan compatriot Hicham Zerouali also had a bad start, returning to the Aberdeen side after a long spell out with serious injury, only to be sent off in a pre-season friendly for swearing at the referee and fined two weeks' wages.

Rachid Belabed, also from Morocco, is starting his third season at Aberdeen.

Dundee United have not retained teenaged Cameroonian central defender Emmanuel Atangana, who has gone back to Austrian side Sturm Graz after his loan.

Motherwell released Moroccan midfielder Said Chiba, who is now at Aris Salonika in Greece, and also parted company with Nigerian defender James Okoli.