‘Brilliant’ Forrest is hailed by Rodgers

CELTIC 5 MOTHERWELL 1

Boss Brendan Rodgers has saluted “brilliant” James Forrest, who reached double figures in goals for the first time at Celtic with a brace in the 5-1 win over Motherwell on Saturday.

Odsonne Edouard, the 19-year-old striker on loan from Paris St-Germain, captured the headlines in a Ladbrokes Premiership rout with a stunning hattrick in his third start for the Hoops.

Forrest came on as part of a double substitution with Callum McGregor in the 67th minute after Well replacement Elliott Frear had pulled a goal back.

The 26-year-old Scotland winger, who came through the youth ranks at the Parkhead club, helped himself to a double to take his goals tally so far to 10 as Celtic extended their unbeaten domestic run to 67 games.

“For me, he has been brilliant,” said Rodgers. “It has been a joy to see him grow and develop in my time here.

“I wanted to change the dynamic of the team by putting him and Callum on. Both can take the ball and keep it, and I felt at that stage of the game we needed to do that.

“You can see he is a real goal threat, inside of his left foot, outside of his right, two brilliant finishes.

“And, like I say, he is high in confidence and I’m delighted to see it because he is a big talent and still so young, so much ahead of him.”

Rodgers spoke of a “complete” performance by Edouard and of having an option to sign him when his loan deal expires next summer.

The French teenager, who took his Celtic goals tally to four since arriving in Glasgow in the summer, said: “I am absolutely delighted to score my first hat-trick for the club.

“I have been patient, very patient, and (was) very happy to start the game,” he added.

“It is all down to the trust of the manager and to make an impact with the hat-trick, I couldn’t be happier.”

Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson said: “Our boys are making their way in the game and they will learn from that and be better for it.”

Meanwhile, Hearts had Jamie Brandon sent off for two bookable offences before half-time against Hamilton, in a game that was delayed by a fire alarm sounding and stadium evacuation before kick-off at Tynecastle.

Craig Levein’s 10 men went ahead two minutes into the second half when Jamie Walker struck home a free-kick, but Hamilton levelled at 1-1 through a header by Xavier Tomas to take a point.

Adam Barton’s 48th-minute own goal gave Hibernian a 1-0 win at bottom-ofthe-table Partick Thistle, lifting Neil Lennon’s side to third place.

Picture: SNS. James Forrest scores his second to make it 5-1 Celtic.