CONFIRMED: EDOUARD RETURNS

ODSONNE EDOUARD gets the opportunity to score his first goal of 2021 when he lines up against Hamilton Accies at Parkhead tonight.

The French striker, who has claimed a meagre seven Premiership strikes this season, returns to the team for the first time since the loss at Ibrox on January 2.

Edouard missed the 1-1 draw with Hibs and the goalless stalemate with Livingston with Covid-related issues and a knee injury kept him out of the 2-2 deadlock at West Lothian a week ago.

As the hitman comes back, £4.5million Vasilis Barkas drops onto the substitutes’ bench with Scott Bain getting the nod from Neil Lennon to take over he No.1 position against the Lanarkshire side who were trounced 5-1 in the east end of Glasgow on the league opener on August 2 where Edouard rattled in a hat-trick.

With Jeremie Frimpong sealing his £11.5million move to Bayer Leverkusen, Kristoffer Ajer will take over the right-sided defensive duties with Shane duffy and Nir Bitton in central defence. Greg Taylor continues at left-back.

Leigh Griffiths will partner Edouard in attack.

TEAM: Bain; Ajer, Bitton, Duffy, Taylor; Soro, Turnbull, McGregor, Elyounoussi; Edouard, Griffiths. Subs: Barkas, Ajeti, Klimala, Christie, Rogic, Johnston, Ralston, Welsh and Laxalt.

*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Hamilton Accies this evening – only in your champion CQN.