ODSONNE EDOUARD is almost certainly OUT of the Europa League Group clash with AC Milan at Parkhead on Thursday night.
The French striker missed the 2-0 collapse against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side yesterday after testing positive for coronavirus while on international duty with his country’s Under-21 squad in Paris.
Edouard returned to Scotland on Friday and there had been hopes of a quickfire return to action in the derby, but there was no sign of the talisman in Neil Lennon’s squad for the encounter.
There are now massive doubts if last season’s 28-goal hitman will face the Serie A cracks as the Hoops kick off their section three days before a crucial Premiership trip to meet Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Lennon, speaking to the Scottish Sun on Sunday, admitted: “He’s had cardiac and blood tests and we’ll see how he is. He’s not trained for nearly two weeks and only got back on Friday.
“We can’t take a chance on anyone’s health and he wasn’t ready, anyway. We knew he had no chance, but couldn’t say it publicly
“I doubt he’ll be okay for Thursday.”
The champions’ boss was also without Ryan Christie, Nir Bitton and Hatem Abd Elhamed in other Covid-19 related issues while Christopher Jullien and James Forrest are still injured.
The Scotland international playmaker was sidelined after he had been deemed to be in contact with team-mate Stuart Armstrong in the Scotland international squad before the Europa semi-final play-off with Israel at Hampden 10 days ago.
He was ordered into a two-week period of quarantine, but should be okay for the visit of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Co later this week.
Bizarrely, Kieran Tierney, who was also ordered to self-isolate in the same incident, was allowed to play for Arsenal in their 1-0 loss against Manchester City at The Etihad yesterday.
HOOPS FIRE BLANKS IN DIRE DISPLAY
