Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard is showing he is more than just goals from open play recently.
The Hoops attacker is becoming more involved off the ball , moulding himself into a number 10.
However, it isn’t only his assists that are making the club hit the big numbers in the last two games.
French Eddy is getting balls into the net from free kicks – a major weakness of previous Hoops sides.
Odsonne Edouard is the best since Henrik Larsson at Celtic
It will take a lot of time before the French youth international takes Henrik Larsson’s mantle – if he ever does.
The Swede’s goals from open play – shooting and heading – is well renowned around the world.
However, what arguably went under the radar was Larsson’s ability from dead balls. He scored a fair amount of free kicks for the club as he racked up record after record.
Similarly, Edouard is following in the same path as Larsson, especially when it comes to free kicks.
Edouard was brought in by former gaffer Brendan Rodgers on loan and then permanently last season.
One of the weaknesses of Rodgers’ side were their abilities from dead balls, particularly free kicks. This has carried on into Lennon’s team but the tide appears to be turning.
Neil Lennon has an extra element to find a goal
Edouard’s last two matches have brought the same amount in goals from the dead ball outside the box.
It isn’t just the goals themselves, but the means of travel the ball takes from foot to net in such a short distance.
Teams are clearly scared when the Frenchman is behind the ball and the Motherwell match shows that.
The keeper clearly told his wall not to jump – guessing that Edouard was going to go low, the opposite to his strike against Hamilton Accies.
But, Edouard replicated the strike with perhaps an even better goal from the edge of the box this time.
Celtic finally have a player that can score from free kicks with confidence.
It may not seem like much now, but when the goals are drying up, it could be so vital.
Gordon Strachan had that with expert Shunsuke Nakamura, and now Lennon has Edouard to pull it off.
Scottish football should be glad to have him now, before he eventually departs.
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