Opportunity Knocks for Odsonne Édouard - a key man for Celtic

For many Celtic fans, the jury is still out on Odsonne Édouard but the doubters will learn to love him.

And that's because he is likely to be crucial to Celtic's hopes of winning a double treble in the remaining weeks of the season.

Odsonne hasn't had the smoothest of starts to his Celtic career and some seem

determined only to see the negatives in his play.

A French under-21 International, the comparisons with Moussa Dembele were as natural as they were unfair.

Moussa had a few in the support declaring that he would never make the grade (smug alert - not this blogger) before his exceptional talents shone through.

But he had had time in Brighton to acquaint himself with British football and an English-speaking culture, which Odsonne had not.

In truth, I think it's clear that Moussa is a more complete player than Odsonne but few forwards of Moussa's age have his range of attributes.

And, as Tommy Burns once said, a player's value should be judged by what he can do, rather than what he can't.

In Odsonne's case, what stands out for me is his direct running on the ball.

There are plenty of big, strong lads who look like they could run through a centre half but few could take the ball with them when they do so and Odsonne's touch and close control are good enough to suggest that he is capable of causing a Scottish Premiership pairing significant distress when he is fully up-to-speed.

He had two chances against Morton, which looked as if he should have done better on the first viewing, but actually required him to adjust his feet due to some very good Morton defending.

While he is not the most graceful of movers and his feet could be a little quicker, he nevertheless does have the ability and composure to retain control in tight spaces in the box and that's an excellent sign that he has the potential to deliver in pressure games.

(One way or another, most Celtic matches are.)

Speaking after the game Brendan Rodgers said: "Odsonne was the key difference in the game.

"He shows his quality, his hold-up play, his movement, his speed, then scores a very good goal."

Many Celtic fans may have forgotten how difficult it was to fill the role of "third striker" in a team normally starting with one forward.

With positions one and two being occupied by the young sensation, Moussa, and the talented braggadocio, Leigh Griffiths, it seemed a potentially unattractive proposition for an incoming player of sufficient talent.

Be content to accept that two other players have prior call on the starting position but have the quality and determination to make people recognise your claim to the place.

In that sense, Celtic were critically vulnerable when last season ended and Odsonne has done an admirable job in giving the team that other option and making opposition coaches have to account for a whole new headache if their Plan A was working.

But with Moussa only now coming back to his best form after hamstring problems (which the coaching and medical staff have been exemplary in managing - plenty would have rushed him back, to his long-term detriment), and Leigh's recurring hamstring injuries clearly frustrating Brendan, Odsonne is emerging as a crucial player for us.

And that importance looks likely to increase.

Such is the interest in Moussa that the summer will likely see intense efforts to prise him away from Celtic Park. And Brendan is very unlikely to hitch his and Celtic's fortunes to the durability of Leigh's calf muscles.

That scenario presents Celtic with a major recruitment issue - and a huge opportunity for Odsonne.

It is highly probable that we will have to sign at least one forward and probably two in the summer.

Various stories have indicated that the fee Celtic would have to pay Paris St Germain for Odsonne is €10m (around £8m).

Many Celtic fans have baulked at the idea of making the 20-year-old our record signing (even though our most expensive players were signed when Odsonne was at primary school).

Is he worth that money to Celtic?

Well, given market rates, the circumstances at the club and the fact that Brendan Rodgers has had

almost a season to work with him, probably yes, though he still has work to do.

But with Celtic's season, hopefully, lasting for another 11 weeks (if we reach the Scottish Cup Final), Odsonne has a huge opportunity, if he wants it.

That's less than three months to prove that he not only has a long-term place at Celtic but can start next season vying for the position of first-choice forward.

If Odsonne demonstrates his full potential and shows the hunger and professionalism required to be a top player for Celtic, then the fans may be clamouring for the club to break that transfer record.

Opportunity Knocks for Odsonne.
(And I mean that most sincerely, folks!) 
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