THINGS TAV TO CHANGE
BRENDAN RODGERS says Odsonne Edouard’s class can leave him gobsmacked and applauding on the touchline.
Now the Celtic boss is backing his French striker to silence the cauldron that will be Ibrox today.
Edouard has done it all before.
Back in March, his sensational goal to give his 10-man team a 3-2 success made him a Hoops hero.
The following month, two goals in the 5-0 humbling of Rangers just rubberstamped his position as a top-level Celtic striker.
The 20-year-old also scored a sensational goal (above) in last week’s 4-3 win over Aberdeen, and Rodgers said: “I find myself applauding due to the sheer RANGERS skipper James Tavernier is desperate to end his cycle of “devastating” defeats to Celtic.
The Ibrox full-back won his first ever Old Firm game in the Scottish Cup semi-final in April 2016, but it has been downhill since.
Tavernier (above) has played 13 times against the Hoops and lost on 10 occasions, drawing twice. Asked about his run of losses against Celtic, the 27-year-old said: “It’s devastating – and I’ve experienced quite a few of them.
“However, you never take a previous defeat into the quality that he possesses, which is incredible. He also has a great footballing brain and technique for such a young player.
“He’s very strong and he also gets goals. He’s a fantastic talent.
“There have been games when I’ve really wanted to take him out just to give him a breather, but we haven’t been able to do that.
“If he has gone off the boil and not been the player he can be in a couple of games, it’s nothing other than tiredness and the fact he’s also played with an injury, which is a result of us having only the one striker. “He’s been questioned since he came here, but I’ve always said what a huge talent he is and he’s shown that at training and in the games.” next game. We’ve come a long way with a new squad and we’ve improved.
“I’m excited for this match. It’s the first Old Firm game of the season at Ibrox and I’m really looking forward to it. “As long as all the lads bring their ‘A’ game and empty the tank then I’ll be happy. Don’t leave anything on the pitch. You can’t ask for any more than that.
“The key in these derby fixtures is to come out the blocks and to show the opponent you are up for a fight.
“We have to start fast and put the ball in the net and if we do, we’ll be in a really good position.”