Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes Odsonne Edouard isn’t fully fit after his recovery from COVID-19, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland pre-match today (11:31).
The manager made just two changes to his team from Thursday night, and it was the Frenchman, alongside defender Shane Duffy, that missed out.
Given they are two of our most high-profile players, questions were inevitably asked on their situation.
Neither has been at their best in recent matches.
For Lennon, publicly at least, it’s about freshness and fitness.
He told BBC Radio Scotland today (11:31): “It’s just to freshen things up, Shane’s played a lot of games and Kris is fit, so it’ll bring a bit of freshness to the back four.
“Odsonne, I don’t think he’s fully fit yet from the covid and he’s started the last two games.
“He’s not been at his sharpest. It’s been a bit stop-start for him, and it’s the third game in a week so we have to keep him as fresh as possible obviously.
“Ajeti is fit and ready to go, he played really well in Lille. He just felt his little hamstring on Monday but he’s fully fit now.”
Edouard’s status is something of a concern heading into another international break.
He’s still not fully recovered from the last time he went away, and we really need him at his best if were to dig ourselves out of a hole in the Scottish Premiership.
We can only hope it’s a case of getting minutes into his legs rather than any long-term impact of his illness.
With Albian Ajeti and Leigh Griffiths in good form, we have options at least.
The Celtic medical will no doubt be keeping a close eye on his progress when away with the French U21s.
In other news, the manager has insisted Mohamed Elyounoussi won’t be punished for a phone ‘incident’ on Thursday night.
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