Edouard able to take part in Celtic training

NEIL LENNON insists he won’t take any risks with the fitness of Odsonne Edouard for Sunday’s Betfred Cup final clash with Rangers. The Celtic boss received a boost yesterday when the France Under-21 international trained with team-mates despite a niggling injury. Boli Bolingoli, Olivier Ntcham, Jonny Hayes, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Vakoun Issouf Bayo also took part in training at Lennoxtown, raising expectations all six will be

available for the first cup final meeting with Rangers since 2011. Admitting tonight’s league clash with Hamilton is too soon for Edouard, however, Lennon says he will tread carefully with the striker’s welfare after the team fared well in his absence. ‘We still don’t know if he’ll be okay for Sunday,’ said the Parkhead boss. ‘We have to be careful with that one. ‘The season doesn’t stop on Sunday, win or lose, and we’ve got to be mindful of that.’ Reluctant to be drawn into a discussion of the final with Rangers until Hamilton is out of the way, Lennon revealed: ‘Ntcham trained today, so he is in contention for tomorrow and Bolingoli, Hayes, Edouard and Elyounoussi were all doing some work. Tomorrow is probably too soon for them but they have a very good chance for Sunday. ‘At the end of the day, if they are not fit they are not fit, we will go with what we’ve got because we are doing all right anyway. It shows the strength of the squad. ‘I’d love to have them back for tomorrow, that may not be the case, but I would be delighted if they are there on Sunday. ‘It is still only Tuesday so I am sort of loath to speak about Sunday, it is about this game tomorrow night. ‘You can ask me anything you want on Friday, I will have a better idea about who is fit and available for Sunday then, too.’ The club’s top scorer this season until midfielder Ryan Christie leapfrogged him with a double in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Ross County, Edouard’s return would be a huge psychological boost for the eight-in-a-row champions. Insisting the other players have shown they can step up to the plate, however, Lennon added: ‘If people are making aspersions, you want to challenge that line of thinking. Ideally you want Odsonne Edouard in the team because he has been brilliant for us but there is always that plan B, plan C, plan D for these eventualities. ‘And we knew that, with him being the one striker sort of leading the line for so long, a bit of fatigue or a niggle would come along, so we are prepared for that.’