Outside views of strike ace Edouard are not shared in dressing room, says Taylor
There is a general belief that Celtic might still have purchase in a title now beyond them, had they had full buy-in fro mod son need oua rd across the entire campaign.
Yet, whatever the wanderlust that afflicted the Frenchman across the summer, the notion that the 23-year-old continues to lollop around does scant justice to how much his influence is burgeoning once more.
A superbly constructed and executed goal from Edouard – adding to Stephen Welsh’s opener – was central to Celtic’s 2-1 win over Motherwell; a success that saw them survive a late scare after Allan Campbell pulled a goal back, having led their visitors a merry dance for more than an hour.
Edouard’s strike followed a midweek brace in the 4-0 win at Kilmarnock that brought him two goals in a single game for the first time since his hattrick against Hamilton on the season’s opening weekend.
Indeed, he has now netted 17 in the past seven months.
Helped by his penalty duties, he has only failed to score in one of his past seven outings – that blank coming in the Ibrox loss derby when he ought to have netted. All of which hardly points to a player just marking time before his inevitable summer departure.
Celtic full-back Greg Taylor would challenge the perception of Edouard, whose season was disrupted by contracting Covid-19, as ever dialling it in.
“Someone said the other day Odsonne has scored 70-odd goals since he joined Celtic – it’s crazy numbers in such a short time,” said the Scotland international of Edouard’s three-and-a-half years at Parkhead that have brought 79 goals in 119 starts and 36 substitute appearances.
“To be honest, it is testament to him because he works hard every single day and has that top quality in his play to go with it. It’s rare he misses games and it seems he is constantly fit. That is also credit to him. Sometimes when he is playing up there, it can be by himself or part of a two, but he certainly gets plenty of bumps and bruises from defenders, but he just gets on with it.
“He continues to keep wanting to take the ball, to try to create something for a teammate or finish things off himself. Odsonne has a personal pride in his performance and puts it in every day, in training as well as games. That’s certainly all I have seen from him.”
Taylor will hope to see such focus again against St Mirren in Paisley on Wednesday.
Celtic are in no position to take advantage of Rangers’ draw at Hamilton on Sunday because of the horrendous display against the Buddies a week past on Saturday that ensures they remain 21 points behind the leaders, having played two fewer games.
The freshness of the season’s low-point will enter Celtic minds in midweek, acknowledged Taylor, when asked if he felt they owed St Mirren one.
He said: “It was a disappointing result, and more a disappointing performance against them at home. It’s just another game and looking for another three points, but it is certainly in the back of your mind.”