Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers provides Odsonne Edouard injury update

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Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard could return for the Europa League second leg clash.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says striker Odsonne Edouard will return from his injury early next week and could be a possibility to face Suduva in the Europa League second leg, Sky Sports report.

The Hoops broke their transfer record to sign Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain this summer with the BBC reporting his fee to be in excess of £8 million.

Edouard has a bright future ahead of him at Celtic Park but so far this season an injury has disrupted his start, with the 20-year-old a big miss during Celtic’s 2-1 Champions League qualifying defeat to AEK Athens.

Rodgers, though, suggests his new striker could return in time to face Suduva next week but adds this weekend’s clash with Hamilton is too soon for the player.

“He will be back early next week. He’s been a big miss for us, there’s no doubt. I think our pre-season started great, we were working on a shape and a structure that gave us a couple of strikers in the team and he is a real link player within that,” Rodgers told Sky Sports.

“Some of our football was very, very good in that period. He gets injured and it’s been a little bit broken from that.

“So it’ll be great to have him back. He gives us numerous options because of his qualities and his football intelligence.”

How important is Odsonne Edouard?

Going by Celtic’s form and performances without their record signing, it’s within reason to suggest Edouard has become a key player for the Hoops despite his young age.

He appeared in just 27 minutes of Celtic’s disappointing defeat to Hearts, while European struggles in Athens and Suduva highlighted the need for a forward capable of linking the play.

With Old Firm rivals Rangers visiting Celtic Park the following weekend for the first Scottish Premiership title clash between the two, the Bhoys will be hopeful Edouard is back in the team and firing on all cylinders.

The former PSG man has netted four times in six games in all competitions this season, but it’s his general play which Celtic miss most and so far most of the team’s good attacking play this term has gone through him.