CELTIC captain Scott Brown has backed teammate Odsonne Edouard to earn a call-up for world champions France after starring for their under-21 side.
Edouard scored four goals in his first two games with the French under-21s, bagging doubles against Albania and the Czech Republic fresh from scoring the opener in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox.
And when asked if he would be surprised to see Edouard called up for France’s senior squad, Brown said: “No, if he is doing it with the Under-21s and the Europa League. That’s the test. He needs to be doing it week in week out.
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“Moussa (Dembele) did it week in and week out and he got a huge move. We want to make sure that Odsonne does it week it and week out as well - but that he stays with us.”
Comparisons with his compatriot Dembele are perhaps inevitable, but as Brown mentions, he hopes that a move for Edouard in the near future isn’t quite a foregone conclusion. It was reported during the international break that Lyon may well look to bring the two players together once more at the Parc Olympique.
One of the biggest compliments that Brown can pay Edouard is that his form has more than compensated for the absence of Dembele since the forward went back to his homeland at the start of last season.
“I think you look at him and you look at Moussa, the two of them came here to show how good they were and both of them turn up in big games,” he said.
“Odsonne has been a real breath of fresh air. We all knew Moussa would leave eventually and Odsonne would have to step up, but he has done it phenomenally well.
“He’s very quiet, very chilled. He plays the same way. He’s relaxed on the ball. If the ball comes to him it comes to him. He never gets annoyed with anyone. He makes those runs and when it doesn’t come off, he doesn’t throw up his arms and shout at everybody. I think that’s what makes him the fantastic striker that he is.
“He has been unbelievable. We have three great strikers now in Odsonne, (Leigh) Griffiths and (Vakoun Issouf) Bayo. It’s great to have such competition between three great strikers.”
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The chilled-out and often languid style of Edouard shouldn’t be misconstrued as the forward going into the huff on occasion, says Brown, with the accusation being levelled at him from some quarters last season - along with teammate Olivier Ntcham - that he could often look disinterested.
According to his captain, nothing could be further from the truth, with Edouard happy with life in Glasgow both on and off the pitch.
“If he scores, he looks kind of happy,” Brown laughed. “I think he’s happy to be here!
“Seriously, he speaks away as his English is getting better and he’s a good guy around the changing room, even if he’s quiet and keeps himself to himself.
“Everyone has different qualities. For me, he is smart the way he plays. He knows when people are coming into him, he knows where the touches are going to be and when he’s going to be hit.
“He knows when to hold it up for the team or go one-on-one with someone and create a chance. That’s the football knowledge that he has at 21 years old and that shows his maturity as well as a No.9 playing up there on his own.”
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