ODSONNE EDOUARD started last night’s game in Alkmaar on the substitutes’ bench with Kyogo Furuhashi leading the line.
However, the French frontman played a key role in Celtic reaching today’s Europa League group stage draw when he replaced Tom Rogic on the hour mark.
And Edouard staked a claim for place in the line-up for Sunday’s visit to Ibrox for the first Glasgow derby of the campaign.
Kyogo, who scored his seventh goal in as many starts with the early opener against AZ Alkmaar, limped off near the end after a punishing 88 minutes against a rugged Dutch outfit.
Ange Postecoglou admitted the talismanic Japanese striker “got a bit of a knock”, but Edouard has given the manager something to think about with an impressive 30 minutes in trying circumstances.
He was pitched in to get the ball and give his colleagues the opportunity to join him further up the pitch and the 23-year-old forward did the job superbly as the team edged through on a 3-2 aggregate scoreline.
Edouard, of course, will be subject to intense speculation between now and the transfer deadline at 11pm on Tuesday, but that will be no concern of the Greeh-Australian gaffer as he plots a win over Steven Gerrard’s side.
Postecoglou, speaking to the Daily Mail, admitted: “We’ll assess that. Odsonne came on and did a job for us again.
“He held the ball up well so he can definitely be an option for Sunday.”
ACCOLADES AND ANXIETY IN ALKMAAR AS HOOPS FIGHT THROUGH
