Alex Jones 
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images Sport
Noel Whelan has praised the professional attitude shown by Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard during pre-season, despite uncertainty continuing to swirl over the striker’s future.
Edouard is widely expected to leave Celtic this summer. Leicester City previously held talks over his availability but opted to sign Patson Daka of RB Salzburg after talks became increasingly deadlocked.
With no suitors currently in the hunt for Edouard’s services, it is unclear as to where his future currently lies.
However, Football Insider claim that West Ham are pondering a move that would re-ignite Edouard’s chances of moving to the Premier League.
In the present however, Edouard has kept his head down and has worked with stoic vigour in pre-season. He recently scored in a 3-1 friendly win over Sheffield Wednesday at Celtic’s training camp in Wales.
Despite having told friends he expects to leave Celtic this summer, Whelan praised Edouard’s refusal to down tools ahead of the new campaign:
“It shows the right attitude,” Whelan told Football Insider.
“What I don’t like and don’t enjoy is players spitting their dummies out when they want a move.
“You are still contracted and getting paid by the club, you show them the same respect you showed when you first signed.
“Look, it’s a difficult situation for the club and Edouard but the good thing is he’s going out there and scoring.
“He’s obviously putting the effort in which is what you want to see.
“Whether it’s for Celtic or he’s doing it to get a move, which is likely, it doesn’t matter.
“As long as he’s showing the right respect to the football club, that’s the way I like to see players act.
“It’s not about forcing a move by not playing or not going to training.
“No club wants to see that, especially a club who might be interested in him.
“It’s great to see him out there.”
Read Celtic Verdict
Edouard has shown dignity in the way he is handling his situation. Contractually, he knows he holds all the aces over his future yet has chosen to take a professional attitude.
From a more cynical standpoint, that could be with a view to preventing potential suitors from being put off by an attitude problem – though Celtic are certainly short-term beneficiaries of his work ethic.
