NEIL LENNON is backing Odsonne Edouard to shoot Celtic to the Premiership pinnacle this afternoon.
The French marksman struggled to make an impact in the 2-1 win over St Mirren in Paisley in midweek, squandered a penalty-kick and was hooked with 10 minutes still to play.
Edouard, who still has two years to run on his current Hoops contract, has been at the centre of intense transfer speculation and speculation is likely to continue all the way to the October 5 deadline.
Boss Lennon, though, admitted he has no problems with his main striker striker being distracted by the sales talk that has linked with moves to clubs throughout Europe.
The Parkhead chief, who is preparing his troops for today’s visit of Gary Holt’s Livingston outfit, told the Scottish Sun: “Odsonne is fine. He is a 22-year-old player and sometimes we expect a lot of him because he’s a mercurial talent.
“I don’t think he’s playing badly, probably not at the level he was when we came to the lockdown. However, I’m pretty confident that will come.”
After successive wins over Ross County in Dingwall and Paisley, while boosting the goal difference by six goals, Lennon remarked: “It’s been a good week so far with two really good results away from home.
“We know what the incentive is, and also we’re trying to find the level of performance that pleases us.
“So, we’re looking forward to the game. We’re not a million miles away from the level we want.
“There was a lot of good things out of the game on Wednesday in terms of our pressure and possession.
“Our pressing was very good, a lot better than Ross County, so there was a vast improvement in that. We had chances to go three or four up, we didn’t take them and that would have given a better reflection on the scoreline from the performance.
“But it was a very important three points utilising the game in hand to get the win and get another 90 minutes of football under the belt.
“There will be a couple of changes, but maybe not too many as I want to try and get some rhythm.”
French central defender Christopher Jullien is a doubt for the Livi encounter with an injury, but Australian international midfielder Tom Rogic could return to the bench.
Lennon added: “Chris is being assessed. He picked up a back strain in training on Thursday. The rest of the squad is as you were, really.
“Tom Rogic and Leigh Griffiths are available and the only one absentee at the minute is Mikey Johnston.
“Griffiths possibly needs a bit more work, Tom has a good chance of being in the squad.”
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Livingston this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
