BACK in September last year we went behind the scenes with BT Sport at Hamilton for their live broadcast of the Hamilton v Celtic match. So rather than being in the wit the Celtic fans we ended up watching the match just below the pundits box at the opposite end of the ground. We stood ourselves at the corner flag with no-one else around us, watching Celtic playing. It was a rather unique experience actually.§
This was the game when Odsonne Edouard made his debut and he scored too. The young striker, on a season long loan from Paris Saint Germaine. Celtic of course have an option to buy the striker and tomorrow he will return to Hamilton hoping to add to his goals tally which has been reasonably good, or to put it another way, enough to convince Brendan Rodgers to keep him at the club on a permanent contract.
The manager of course would choose Edouard’s goal at Ibrox on Beautiful Sunday – a contender for goal of the season – rather than his effort at Hamilton last September as his highlight but for a striker getting off the mark at any club is a memorable moment.
Brendan remembers the debut goal well.
“He came in and you could see his pace and movement that night and he got his goal, so he did very well,” Brendan said.
“He’s been great in his time here. He’s a very young player who never gets too carried away or shows too much emotion. But he’s a very good talent and it’s been brilliant to work with him.
“Of course, he’s a player you always want, there’s no question for me. A boy at that age, with those qualities, he’s only going to get better. But we always have to respect his club, he’s a signed player for PSG. They might have other plans for him, so it’s something that we’ll speak to them about between now and the end of the season.
“What I do know is that he’s loving his time here. He’s taken to living in Glasgow and settled in really well. According to the people in Paris, they’ve seen him become a man in his time here, in terms of how he’s developed physically and as a player playing at a big club.You can only hope that you can continue with that player at your club.
“There’s an option there, but reports in terms of the numbers are quite wide of the mark really. But it’s private, that will be between the clubs.
“There’s other bits around it as well which will need clarifying, but it’s a deal that is doable, there’s no question about that.
“I think one of my strengths as a manager is spotting talent in young players, and he’s one of the best I’ve worked with.
“That doesn’t automatically get you into a place, because I have to respect what Moussa Dembele did for me last year as well as Leigh Griffiths.
“But I have my mind totally made up on him.”
