Celtic will fight to keep hat-trick hero at Parkhead

Lennon hails Edouard as side hit five past Hamilton

NEIL LENNON says Celtic will do all they can to keep Odsonne Edouard after the striker hit a hat-trick in the opening day win over Hamilton.

The Celtic manager was delighted with the performance of the forward as his side got their season off to a flyer with a 5-1 victory over Brian Rice’s Accies, hailing the Frenchman as one of the best strikers he has worked with.

Lennon says Edouard can go on to any level of the game he aspires to, but while he is desperate to see him continue his development in Glasgow, he concedes suitors will be paying attention to his form.

“We can’t help that, it’s inevitable,” said Lennon. “But we’ll try to stave off any admirers. I’m sure there are plenty out there, but we love having him here and I’m sure he’s enjoying it.

“He’ll be well on the radar of clubs before the start of this season. He had 27 goals up until March last season, and I was delighted with that goal return.

“I was delighted with the goals he got today too, he was on the end of things and that pleased me. They were striker’s goals today. Normally you associate Odsonne with brilliant individual goals, but there were a few tap-ins and a near-post run.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and I’m sure he’s happy, but we are as a team looking to build on what we’ve started with.”

When asked if he was the best striker to have played under him, Lennon said: “That’s a brilliant question. I’ve worked with great strikers. It’s too early to say. I think he’s got the potential to be anything he wants to be really. His all-round game, he’s a fantastic player.

“I’ve worked with all different types. Gary Hooper was a great goalscorer, Leigh Griffiths is a great goalscorer. I worked with Emile Heskey towards the end of his career and he’s right up there with any of them, no question. He keeps re-writing his own story here at the minute.”

Hamilton manager Rice, meanwhile, said nobody should judge his side on the heavy defeat at Celtic Park.

“We created some chances and they never gave up,” said Rice. “They could quite easily have crumbled but they didn’t.

“So, I’m not too critical of my team, I won’t be too harsh on them. Because anyone who judges Hamilton against Celtic is deluded. We are playing in a league within a league and we know that. We are bottom of that league and we need to get off it, starting next week.”