NEIL Lennon is confident Odsonne Edouard will be fit to play for Celtic against Rangers in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden tomorrow after the £9 million striker came through a training session yesterday.
Edouard, who has scored 14 goals during the 2019/20 campaign, has missed the Parkhead club’s last three games against Rennes, Ross County and Hamilton due to a minor injury.
However, the French forward joined his team mates at Lennoxtown yesterday and his manager Lennon is optimistic he will be involved against Steven Gerrard’s side this weekend.
Having the 21-year-old available for selection will give the treble treble winners a huge lift as Leigh Griffiths is still not fully fit and Vakoun Bayo is also out and winger Lewis Morgan has been playing up front.
"With Odsonne it's a day by day thing so we'll see tomorrow how he reacted to training," said Lennon.
"The rest of the guys, we've more or less got a full complement. Some have been out longer than others but they're all in good condition.
"We have ideas up our sleeve for every eventuality so regardless of whether he's declared fit or not then we have other irons in the fire to deal with that.
"Nobody's ever 100 per cent but obviously I have to be guided by the medical guys and the fitness staff as well.
"But he (Edouard) trained, did the full session, today and looks like he's come through it no problem.
“I'm always encouraged to see a player of that calibre on the training ground and there's no question we're a better team when he's fit and available.
"Of course it's his call. That's the same with every player coming back from injury and I think there's a very good chance he will start.
"We've done pretty well in his absence but there's no question we're a better team when he's available."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here