Prize fighter Edouard hails his cornerman SWFA Player of the Year owes it all to Lennon... and targets France caps

THE decision to hand Celtic their ninth consecutive Premiership title last month even though the 2019/20 season had not been completed due to the coronavirus outbreak was hotly disputed by some in Scottish football.

There were a sizeable number who wanted it declared null and void. Others demanded that it be played to a finish when the lockdown was lifted regardless of how long that took. No consensus could be reached. Predictably, conspiracy theories abounded.

But few can reasonably question the validity of crowning Odsonne Edouard the Footballer of the Year such has been the quality and consistency of his performances up front for Celtic both at home and abroad throughout the curtailed campaign.

Callum McGregor, the Celtic midfielder, Alfredo Morelos, the Rangers striker, and Lawrence Shankland, the Dundee United forward, were all shortlisted for the annual Scottish Football Writers’ Association award and all had their champions.

Yet, with 28 goals in all competitions Edouard was, by some distance, the standout performer. It wasn’t just the number of times he found the net which was impressive, it was his all-round displays. He created scoring opportunities for his team mates as well as converted chances himself. At times, his skilful play in the final third was worth the admission fee alone.

A quiet and laidback individual, he paid tribute to the other players in contention for the prestigious award, admitted the team’s success had been more important than his own achievements and thanked Neil Lennon for helping to develop him further as a player since taking over from Brendan Rodgers as manager last year.

“The other three players on the shortlist [Callum McGregor, Alfredo Morelos and Lawrence Shankland] were not there by chance,” he said. “It’s because they are real quality players.

“There were a lot of highlights for me during the season, but the biggest one was winning the title for Nine-In-ARow. That’s the reason we play.

“The manager is a very, very good coach. He is very demanding, but brings the best out of the team. He talks to me a lot, he guides me and he has been very good for my development as a player.”

But it is no surprise the prodigiously-gifted 22-yearold has lofty ambitions in the game given the high level at which he performs. He has been sensational for the France Under-21 team in the season just passed as well as Celtic and has slotted home seven of their 14 goals in their Euro 2021 qualifying campaign to date.

But earning a call-up to his national team is definite target.

Edouard is optimistic the postponement of the Euro

2020 finals due to the Covid-19 outbreak and football shutdown – the tournament has been put back 12 months and will now be played next summer – could help him to force his way into contention for a place in Didier Deschamps’ star-studded squad.

He would like to join up with Lyon striker Moussa Dembele, who he played alongside when he first moved to Glasgow and who he has remained in contact with, once again if he does.

“It is definitely one of my objectives to get into the French team at some point,” he said. Now that I have one more season to prove myself and perform well before the Euros, the delay could be a positive thing for me. It would be fantastic for me.

“I am still close friends with Moussa and we talk a lot. I’m really happy for him that he has done so well with Lyon. I wouldn’t say it is a dream for us to play together for France one day, but I would say it is definitely a target for us.”

Speculation about whether the player – who is a huge favourite of the Celtic fans and who is regaled with chants of “I wanna be Edouard” whenever he takes to the field – will stay at Parkhead for another season or move to another club in a larger and richer league have abounded in recent weeks.

But the fact that he remained in Scotland throughout lockdown is perhaps an indication of how settled he is in this country and suggests that he could, despite the riches that would be available to him if he was to move on, stay where he is for at least another campaign.

He has certainly been working hard to stay fit since March and is determined to be in peak condition when the new season kicks off, provided the government give the goahead, in August.

“It has been difficult for most people, but I have kept busy and I’ve made sure I’ve been keeping fit,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of running, for example. Luckily, one of my friends was here just before lockdown started, so I haven’t been on my own.

“I’ve been speaking to my family back in France through video conferences, but I’ve done that anyway since I came to Celtic, so it has felt normal. I’ve been getting a lot of support.”