CONFIRMED: BIG-GAME EDOUARD RETURNS

ODSONNE EDOUARD will return from his midweek evening off to replace Vakoun Issouf Bayo against Hibs at Easter Road this afternoon.

The French Under-21 star was rested for the 5-0 thrashing of Partick Thistle in the Betfred League Cup quarter-final at Parkhead when the Ivorian led the line and scored his first goal for the club.

However, Neil Lennon has brought back his big-game player for the Premiership encounter against is old team where the champions are looking to maintain their excellent 100 per cent Premiership record after six outings.

Fraser Forster also returns to goal in place of Craig Gordon and Moritz Bauer plays instead of overnight sensation Jeremie Frimpong, the debut Bhoy who won the Man of the Match accolade against the Jags.

Kristoffer Ajer, Christopher Jullien and Boli Bolingoli complete the back four while skipper Scott Brown, a second-half substitute on Wednesday, and Callum McGregor are in their usual positions behind James Forrest, Oliver Ntcham and Ryan Christie, who has claimed 10 strikes this season.

That leaves Edouard to front the attack while Lennon has striking options on the bench in the shape of Bayo, Scott Sinclair and Mohamed Elyounoussi on the bench.

TEAM: Forster; Bauer, Ajer, Jullien, Bolingoli; Brown, McGregor; Forrest, Ntcham, Christie; Edouard. Subs: Gordon, Elhamed, Hayes, Rogic, Sinclair, Elyounoussi, Bayo.

* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Hibs v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.