Former Hearts star Michael Stewart has stated that he would choose Odsonne Edouard over Alfredo Morelos in big games.
The straight-talking BBC pundit told it like it was on yesterday’s BBC Sportsound programme. The debate over Morelos and Edouard has been going on since the start of last season. French Eddy became Celtic’s number one striker after Moussa Dembele left, and has proved himself to be a big-game player.
However, Morelos’ scoring rate has been hard to ignore too. So far this season, the Colombian has bagged 13 goals in 17 appearances. Despite that, he’s still never scored in 10 Glasgow derby matches against Celtic. Edouard, meanwhile, has eight goals in 15 Celtic games this season.
And, as he spoke to BBC Sportsound last night, Stewart admitted he would go for Edouard despite Morelos’ superior goal return.
“Morelos is a bit more unorthodox, he’s all action. Edouard, I think is continuing to develop and look quite classy. If it was a Scottish Cup Final, and I was to pick one, I think I would probably just go with Odsonne Edouard at the moment.
“Edouard has come up in big games. Morelos, against Celtic, he’s not really done the business yet in those bigger games. Granted, in Europe he’s still scored some pretty good goals for Rangers.
“But if it’s a Scottish Cup Final and I was picking one, I would marginally go for Odsonne Edouard.”
Celtic man a class above his Ibrox rival
Glasgow derbies aren’t everything. But just wait until Morelos, if he ever does, actually scores in one of them. You’ll never hear the end of it, and many will likely use that to reaffirm their delusional belief that he’s the best in Scotland.
However, they’ll conveniently forget the fact that Edouard already has five derby goals to his name already. Morelos is a good goalscorer and we all admit that, but his all-round game isn’t as gifted as Edouard’s.
The big Frenchman has proved time and time again on the big occasion that he can step up. Morelos, meanwhile, hasn’t scored against a side bigger than Legia Warsaw, for example. Against better defenders, he gets found out.
It’s not down to sheer luck that he’s gone 10 games vs us without scoring. Yes he’s missed some chances, but in the past, the likes of Dedryck Boyata and Kristoffer Ajer have bullied him out of matches and never given him a sniff.
Throw him in against St Mirren, Hearts, and 10-man Hibs – Morelos will do a more than decent job. But play him against a team of real class? The fact is he’s unproven, and if anything, the evidence weighs against him. Goals against Mitdjylland and Warsaw are hardly jaw-dropping.
Edouard, meanwhile, has netted against the likes of Cluj, RB Salzburg, RB Leipzig, Rosenborg, and has also bagged goals for the France under-21 side. Rivals like to forget his goals against Rangers, but he’s scored five of those too. His stock is higher than his rival, who, at the moment, still hasn’t achieved anywhere near what Eddy has.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
