ODSONNE EDOUARD has now scored the same amount of goals in one game for the France Under-21 side as he has for Celtic in over TWO months.
Last season’s top scorer with 28 goals claimed a double in his nation’s 3-1 win over Switzerland in Caen at the start of the week to take his total at this level to a record 16, overtaking his former Hoops team-mate Moussa Dembele, as CQN reported.
His last strike for the champions was in the 1-0 Europa League qualifier against Sarajevo in Bosnia on October 1 and before that you have got to go back to a penalty-kick in the 5-0 triumph over Ross County in Dingwall on September 12 for his previous goal.
The maverick frontman is enduring a frustrating campaign in Neil Lennon’s side with a meagre tally of six since the term kicked off in July. He claimed a hat-trick in the 5-1 success over Hamilton Accies on Flag Day in the east end of Glasgow on August 2 and his effort against the Highlanders took his Premiership tally to four.
Admittedly, the 22-year-old fans’ favourite has not been helped by testing positive for coronavirus while on previous duty with his country’s Under-21 outfit which led to a period of self-isolation in Paris before his return to Scotland.
WHOOPS…Odsonne Edouard celebrates with his French Under-21 team-mates.
However, prior to that international break, Edouard, who missed a feeble penalty-kick in the 2-1 victory over St Mirren in Paisley on September 16, asked to be excused duty in the next game against Livingston which the Celts won 3-2.
His other goal this time out was in the 6-0 Champions League qualifier against FK Reykjavik in Glasgow on August 18.
Gaffer Lennon will be hoping Edouard has rediscovered the spark that catapulted him into the £40million-plus transfer headlines in the summer as the Hoops bid for a double first – the quadruple treble when they play Hearts in the delayed Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on December 20 and the historic tenth successive title.
The £9million man from Paris Saint-Germain was obviously delighted with the France’s Under-21 side’s qualification for next summer’s Euro Championships and took to Instagram to display his pleasure. He wrote: “First place in the group and qualifying for the Euros“.
OOPS…Odsonne Edouard fails from the penalty spot against St Mirren in September.
All at CQN wish Edouard all the very best for success in the competition – especially with Scotland failing to qualify after last night’s 1-0 loss in Greece – and we hope he enjoys the experience.
We would now ask him to turn his attention to club matters and return to the form that made him a first pick for his manager.
Edouard started on the substitutes’ bench against Motherwell before the international break while Mohamed Elyounoussi took the scoring plaudits with a rousing hat-trick in the 4-1 victory.
Now all eyes are on Easter Road on Saturday afternoon when the champions face a crucial Premiership encounter against Hibs.
It’s time for Edouard to stand up and be counted. If he can do it for his country, there can be no logical reason why he cannot do it for his club.
