Brilliant Celtic teenager to be fast-tracked into team for clash v Hamilton – confirmed
By James Black
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is set to give loan signing Odsonne Edouard his debut in tomorrow night’s Scottish Premiership clash with Hamilton.
The 19-year-old Frenchman joined Celtic on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day and looks poised to replace Leigh Griffith in the Hoops’ frontline.
“Edouard will be involved in the squad tomorrow. He has been playing some games and training over the course of pre-season,” Rodgers told reporters at his pre-match press conference, as quoted by Celtic’s official Twitter account.
“I think he’s what you expect of a lot of young French strikers, he’s very quick, very dynamic and technically very good.”
Edouard started his senior career with PSG before spending last season on loan at fellow Ligue 1 side Toulouse where he scored once in 17 appearances before having his loan cut short over off-field issues.
In 2015, he was chosen to represent France at the UEFA European under-17 Championship picking up the Golden Player award and bagging eight of Les Bleus’ 15 goals in the competition.
Rodgers’ selection options are limited ahead of the trip to Hamilton with Moussa Dembele only just returning to training this week after injury and Leigh Griffith’s picking up a knock in Scotland’s 2-0 win over Malta on Monday.
The Celtic boss will also have one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League group stage opener against Edouard’s parent club as the Hoops look to make their mark on the European stage after finishing bottom of their group at the same stage last year.
Despite having not played a senior match since March, Edouard has been involved with PSG’s first team over the summer and has featured in friendlies against Tottenham, Juventus and Roma so should have some level of match fitness ahead of his Hoops bow.
Edouard could be joined by another debutant in tomorrow’s televised game with Patrick Roberts in line to make his second debut following his loan move from Mancester City.
In other Celtic news, they have been given a double boost ahead of the Champions League.
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