Odsonne Edouard was Celtic’s record signing this summer when the Parkhead side shelled out £9m for his services but Brendan Rodgers believes such is the striker’s quality that the Hoops got him on the cheap.

It remains to be seen whether Edouard starts today’s game at Ibrox or puts in an appearance midway through it, but Rodgers is confident that the French striker will leave his mark all over the fixture against Steven Gerrard’s side.

The 20-year-old forward has been toiling with an abductor injury but his cameo role at Pittodrie turned the game for Celtic on Boxing Day. Edouard stole the show with a goal and a couple of assists when he came off the bench but his movement looked compromised, with Rodgers conceding that with the player unable to make it through the full 90 minutes he has a decision to make.

“He’s been questioned since he came here but I’ve always said what a huge talent he is and he’s shown that at training and in the games – for us to get him for the money we did was a snip, really,” said Rodgers.

“The question for us is do we start him knowing he probably can’t finish the game, or do we bring him into the game when space is opening up and there is a bit of natural tiredness which he can exploit.

“That’s the decision. Or do we play with two and get people around him.”

In any case, though, Edouard has shown in his time at the club that he is a player who relishes the big occasion.

The Frenchman announced his arrival at Celtic in the 3-2 win over Rangers last March when he helped the Parkhead side turn the game in their favour.

“He’s a game-changer,” enthused Rodgers. “No question. He’s already shown that speed, that intelligence, that power at all the levels and the finishing.

“He can occupy back fours and he’s got a lot of tools in his locker with a lot more development to come.

“As you saw at Ibrox last season and in other games at home, he’s great to work with.

“He’s a fantastic talent and, if he has gone off the boil and not been the player he can be in a couple of games, it’s nothing other than tiredness and the fact he’s also played with an injury, which is a result of us having only the one striker.

“But you can’t deny the boy’s ability.

“I don’t set the price – I don’t get involved in that. I just want to work with good players and, for me, from when we first saw him and then brought him in on loan, you could tell straight away.

“Some of the things he does every day I find myself applauding due to the sheer quality that he possesses, which is incredible. He also has a great footballing brain and technique for such a young player, he’s very strong – although he maybe doesn’t look it – but you can see the number of times he holds opponents off.

“He also gets goals. There have been games when I’ve really wanted to take him out just to give him a breather but we haven’t been able to do that but you cannot deny his talent of his efficiency. I’m delighted to have him.”

While Moussa Dembele had an arrogance about the way he played and held himself, Edouard seems a little more reserved. For Rodgers, though, the player has similar ability alongside a different personality.

“He’s just a humble kid,” said the Celtic boss. “He doesn’t seek attention or affection, he just wants to be the best he can be.

“That’s why he’s here. To develop and help him. He’s not a big, stiff striker who just stands up there because that’s no use to us – we’re about speed and creativity.

“He knows he’s a good player, it’s just different characters, different personalities.

“Mouss was great, he had that inherent belief, but he’s a different personality type. He’s not doing some of the other some strikers might do.

“He’s team-orientated and he’s very driven in terms of what he wants to achieve.

“He came here, left Paris with virtually no English and took himself out of his comfort zone. For me, he’s been outstanding is only going to get better.”

Rodgers, meanwhile, has warned that Celtic need to be aggressive and competitive at Ibrox without losing their focus on the game.

Scott Brown is expected to start the game against Rangers with the Celtic manager believing that the midfielder embodies the combative qualities required for the fixture while also being able to play within the legal parameters of the game.

“You need to have that competitive edge,” said Rodgers. “You need to have that within your team which we have but in these games what we have been able to help him with is to control that. It is no good losing your focus.

“You want to be strong and you want to be aggressive but you want to be able to do your job. It is giving clarity to players. When they have that clarity about their position on the pitch it takes away the anxiety and the stress and allows them to just focus on the game.

“So they know exactly where they need to be at the right moments with and without the ball and that then gives them that purpose in the game.

“With Browny, touch wood, he controls it very well but we want him to be on the edge and on the limit which is important but it is also important that you keep your composure.”