RYAN CHRISTIE has declared ice-cool Odsonne Edouard the hot favourite to be Celtic Player of the Year.
The Hoops have launched voting for the club awards as the 2019/20 campaign hangs in the balance.
Christie and Callum McGregor are also contenders — but he reckons French striker Edouard will take some beating.
He said: “I’ll be going for Odsonne. From the start of the season he has been phenomenal.
“People see his goals and performances and he’s been unbelievable.
“But training with him every day, some of the stuff that he comes out with is ridiculous.
“He would be my pick for his consistency and the big moments he has produced.
“Odsonne is very laidback. He is as chilled off the pitch as he is on it.
“That’s just his personality and he has this ability to turn things on whenever he wants.
“When he’s through on goal, he never panics. He’s always cool.
“That’s just a mindset thing from Odsonne. Even in big moments in front of goal, he is so calm.
“Think back to his penalty late on in the Copenhagen game. It’s the last 32 of the Europa League, there was so much pressure on him.
“But he was so cool. To dink a penalty like that shows how much belief he has in himself.
“The scary thing about Odsonne is that he’s still only 22. There is so much potential to unlock yet.
“He will just keep getting better and better.
“I’ve noticed this season that there are elements of his game improving all the time.
“His hold-up play is getting better and that’s a big help when we are away from home and need the ball to stick.
“Odsonne has talent and his nice footwork and goals get a lot of attention.
“But he also has to do the dirty work and has been very consistent in that sense.
“He has been reliable all season and his performances in Europe were excellent too.”
Jeremie Frimpong is favourite to win Celtic’s Young Player award and Christie agrees with that.
He said: “There are a few contenders for that but Jeremie does stand out.
“Mikey Johnston will be there or thereabouts but he’s had a tough time with injury.
“He has bags of ability and started the season well. Mikey has a big future ahead.
“But Jezza has been a great addition to the squad and has made such a big impact.
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“His turn of pace and ability to get down the wing and put crosses in is unbelievable.
“He is the perfect modern-day full back and he was exactly what we needed.
“The team was doing well but Jezza gave us that extra lift when he made his debut.
“He was our best player for two or three games in a row and looked like he’d been playing there for years.
“Jezza is so enthusiastic. I love him to bits . . . he’s so funny and genuine.
“His ‘Oh my days’ stuff after the Betfred Cup Final went viral but that’s genuinely what he’s like.
“We see his personality every day and he has a massive future ahead of him in the game. Getting him from Manchester City was a brilliant piece of business as he will keep improving.”
Olivier Ntcham’s away winner against Lazio could scoop Celtic’s Goal of the Season.
But Christie also hailed skipper Scott Brown for a rare strike in a vital win over Hamilton Accies.
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He said: “Ollie’s goal against Lazio in Rome was a brilliant moment — because of how important it was and the circumstances.
“It was injury time, it was to win the game and he was so calm and collected.
“To finish with a chip like that at any time would have been special.
“But to do it under that pressure against Lazio to put us into the knockouts was amazing.
“Broony’s last-minute winner against Hamilton shouldn’t be overlooked either.
“We were all gutted when we lost the equaliser and for him to step up and score was huge.
“I felt he should have won it last season for his winner at Kilmarnock.
“So maybe he will get it this year because it was a big moment for us.”
Voting for Celtic’s Player of the Year awards can be found at https://poty.celticfc.net/home