Scottish Premiership

NEIL LENNON insists Odsonne Edouard is NOT pushing to quit Celtic — as Brighton joined the transfer chase.
The £30million-rated Hoops striker has been out of sorts recently and a host of Premier League clubs want him, including Aston Villa.

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Celtic star Odsonne Edouard is wanted by a host of clubsCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

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Celtic boss Neil Lennon says the star is happy at ParkheadCredit: SNS Group

Lennon admits the extended transfer window can be unsettling — but insists Edouard is content, despite starting yesterday’s 3-0 win over Hibs on the bench.
He said: “We don’t want Odsonne to go, obviously, and we have had no significant interest in him as yet.
“There’s always a bit of agitation when the window is open, but speaking to him he seems content enough.

“He didn’t have his best of games in Latvia in midweek, but that’s fine.
“Odsonne is a human being at the end of the day. He’s 22.
“He didn’t have the best of games, but we know what we have got here with Odsonne.
“We know what a talent he is. He is a quality player.”

The Covid-19 crisis saw Fifa extend the transfer window to Monday, October 5, leading to extra strain on managers.
Lennon wants a left-sided player to complete his own squad, but he is also braced for offers for star men.
Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer, Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic have all been the subject of interest.

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The Celtic boss hopes to keep his squad intact but won’t relax until after the window closes.
He said: “We knew the date coming into it and I’m not exclusive to this, a lot of managers will be in the same position.
“You get to take a deep breath after October 5 and look forward to the rest of the season, or at least until January.
“I am hoping it will be pretty quiet. We would like to get another player in, one more if we can.
“I would be absolutely delighted if that’s going to be the outcome. But I can’t predict what’s going to happen one way or the other.”

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RANGERS No2 Gary McAllister believes Ryan Kent must be ‘getting close’ to an England call-up.
The attacker continued his fine start to the season with his fifth goal of the season during the 4-0 win over Willem II in the Europa League third round on Thursday.

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Ryan Kent has been in good form for RangersCredit: Getty

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McAllister believes the attacker would fit in with Gareth Southgate’s England squadCredit: Getty

The former Liverpool youngster also played a part in two other goals that night before helping Steven Gerrard’s men to a 5-1 win at Motherwell on Sunday.
Kent has represented England at Under-18 and Under-20 level on a handful of occasions.
And Ibrox assistant McAllister said in the build-up to the Motherwell game he believes the 23-year-old “must be getting close” to a first senior cap.

He said: “What I’d say is that when he’s performing the way he did against a team from Holland – Williem II are a good side who are in the Europa League on merit – then he must be getting close.
“There is a push towards younger players with the England set-up under Gareth Southgate. And Ryan is exciting.
“I don’t want to be shouting from the rooftops but there is a player here who is in really good form.”
Rangers boss Gerrard hailed Kent for his inspiring performance in the Netherlands.

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He said: “From an attacking point of view, I think Ryan was the game changer for us tonight.
“He does incredibly well running in behind and he has added that into his game this season.
“He gets us the penalty for the breakthrough and he is just a constant threat. He is so sharp and he has added a different dimension to his game.
“He is a pleasure to watch and coach and we just need to enjoy him.”

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A SHOCKING video showing a punch-up between Rangers and Aberdeen supporters teams has surfaced on social media.
The Sunday league match – which is believed to have taken place in London – descended into ugly scenes as punches and kicks were thrown at players.

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Punches and kicks were thrown in Rangers vs Aberdeen supporters game

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The ugly brawl was captured on film

The footage shows a Rangers player throwing a punch at one of the Aberdeen boys before a couple of his other Gers team-mates throw some hits of their own.
One Aberdeen player can be seen falling to the deck with a kick aimed at his face as the ugly scenes were captured on film.
The fight – recorded by a punter on the Aberdeen side – comes to an end with the Dons squad left seething at their opponents.

Shouts of “can someone call the police please” can be heard off camera.
While another person says “Supporters club game on a f***ing Sunday.”
“He’s bleeding. He’s f***ing bleeding” can also be heard off camera.
As the footage comes to an end an Aberdeen player makes his way across to the side of the pitch with his hand covered in blood.

It is unclear what sparked the brawl.
There’s certainly no love lost between Aberdeen and Rangers over the years.

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The bad blood between both clubs had been bubbling when Alex Ferguson’s Dons broke the Old Firm duoply in the 80s.
But the bitter rivalry exploded following Neil Simpson’s horror tackle on a young Ian Durrant in 1988 – eight years after Wille Johnston’s stamp on John McMaster.
Now more than three decades on, the toxic relationship between both sets of fans still very much exists and the fixture is often marred by trouble in the stands.

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TV PRESENTER Maya Jama sparked a “Celtic vs Rangers war” on social media by posing cheekily in the Light Blues’ kit and declaring Steven Gerrard’s men were her “Scottish team”.
A Gers’ fan ignited the frenzy by posting a snap of Jama – co-host of BBC One’s Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer – as she pulled at her Ibrox top and stuck her tongue out.

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This snap of BBC TV and radio host Maya Jama caused a frenzy on social media

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Maya Jama says she will now be neutral north of the border – to avoid Rangers and Celtic fans getting too hot under the collar Credit: Instagram

In a now-deleted tweet, the Radio 1 presenter revealed the shirt was a birthday gift from friends in Glasgow.
The 26-year-old wrote: “Not sure how you found this photo but I actually have a group of friends from Glasgow & for my birthday one of em got me that top & debated with the others for like an hour why I should be a Rangers fan…they can be my Scottish team.”
But the post was hot to handle for fans of the two fierce rival clubs.
And she took it down – saying she wanted to stay neutral and joking she wanted to still enjoy peaceful nights out in Glasgow.

‘WOAH, WOAH, WOAH’
In a series of tweets she wrote: “Woah woah woah.
“Judging by the replies to my last tweet I think im gna remain mutual.
“I don’t want the smoke & I wana go out in Glasgow in peace in future Lool love you all, Lowe me.
“Ffs tryna have a relaxing weekend away & now I’ve started a Celtic v Rangers war in my mentions.”

Maya then switched to Instagram after a fan shared a snap of her name trending on Twitter over the kit saga.

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Celebrity presenter Maya Jama says she is more comfortable stepping back out of the Rangers vs Celtic rivalry Credit: mayajama/Instagram

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Maya Jama took to Twitter and then Instagram to defuse the kit saga her photo sparked
She wrote: “Loool I bloody love the Scottish but I’ve now realised I have to be mutual in the football team department if I don’t want world war 3 in my mentions.”
But Maya added: “Also my grandad lived in Dollar in Scotland so what team do you support if you live there? Question.”
Social media wasted no time in responding to Maya wading into Old Firm hostilities.
One Rangers fan said: “Rangers Maya always Rangers first.”

A Hoops supporter replied: “Maybe if you go put a Celtic top on now then most Celtic fans will forgive you.”
Another football follower said: “Don’t worry, That war has been going on for a long long time.”
And a fourth joked: “Never – And I repeat Never – get into a Glasgow football discussion.”

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ANTHONY STOKES has left Livingston after just three weeks – due to the club’s Astro Turf training pitch.
SunSport exclusively revealed that the Irish striker, 32, was set to leave the West Lothian side.

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Anthony Stokes has quit Livingston after just three weeks due to the club’s Astro Turf training pitchCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

And the Lions have now explained why they have agreed a mutual termination of Stokes’ contract in a statement on their website.
Livingston’s head of football operations David Martindale said: “Stokesy has been in training for approximately four weeks now and it’s fair to say that we both knew that there was going to be a lot of work to be done to get Anthony into top shape to play Premiership football.
“In all honesty, it’s not quite worked out in terms of the on-field ball work and intense training schedule we had put in place.
“He is struggling to adapt to training two-three hours per day on the Astro Turf surface – we all know it doesn’t and won’t suit everyone.

“Of course, Anthony knew the surface we had in place but each player adapts to that differently and you can’t know how your body will feel adapting to it until you’ve been out there and played or trained on it frequently.
“We know it isn’t for everyone and sadly, that’s been the case for Anthony.
“Whilst trying to get the player in shape, it’s been extremely frustrating for all of us, staff and player alike, that we can’t seem to get the intense training needed into the player.

“To be fair to Anthony, he has noticed this himself and he approached us with the option to terminate.

“This allows both the player and the club to explore other opportunities.
“It’s a real shame that the Livingston FC fans didn’t get to see Anthony wear the number nine shirt for Livingston on the field.
“In the short spells we did get a chance to work with him, you could certainly see the quality he possesses.”

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Livingston boss Gary Holt explained Anthony Stokes offered to quit over issues in trainingCredit: Andy Barr – The Sun Glasgow

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RANGERS legend Brian Laudrup has revealed he has been given the all-clear from his cancer.
The former Light Blues star, 51, was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma ten years ago.

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Rangers legend Brian Laudrup has been given the all-clear from cancerCredit: PA:Empics Sport

But in a great piece of news, the former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Ajax forward has now revealed that he has finally been given the all-clear.
Posting a picture on Instagram with his doctor and nurse, Laudrup said: “Today, after ten years of treatment and check-ups, I finally got the all-clear for my follicular lymphoma cancer diagnosis!
“A huge thank you to this amazing and wonderful medical staff at the Rigshospitalet.”
Former Rangers star Shota Arveladze sent Laudrup his best wishes, responding to the post: “Brian, thanks to god.”

Laudrup, who helped Denmark shock the world to win Euro 1992, became a fan favourite among Rangers fans during his four years at the club between 1994 and 1998.
The Dane made 147 appearances in all competitions, scoring 41 goals in the process.
And he helped the Ibrox club win three league titles, a Scottish Cup and a League Cup.

After his time at Rangers came to an end, Laudrup had a brief spell at Stamford Bridge, then with Copenhagen and Ajax before retiring in 2000 at the age of 31.

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Laudrup had a brief spell at Chelsea but barely playedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Meanwhile, Jim Duffy has revealed how Rangers icon Paul Gascogine nearly ended up playing for Dundee.
The former Dens Park boss said: “What happened was, we had a director at the time, Giovanni Di Stefano… he wanted a celebrity signing.
“He kept at me, so we tried to get Gazza, so I arranged to meet Gazza.
“He missed the opportunity, he came up on the train one day… and it didn’t work out.
“Then there was a couple of other players. He then said to me that he’d agreed to get Edgar Davids, the Dutch international.

“He said to me: ‘We’ve got it all agreed – all you have to do is go to Turin and convince him to come to Dundee.’
“I was laughing: ‘Edgar Davids to Dundee? He’s on £90,000-a-week. He’s got a penthouse apartment outside of Turin.
“‘You’re wanting him to come and play against Brechin in the Forfarshire cup? With a beautiful big hedge in the background?
“That’ll really entice him.”

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CONFUSION reigns over Monday night’s scheduled clash between the Czech Republic and Scotland after Uefa said the match GOES ahead.
That will come as news to the Czechs, who decided in the wake of their 3-1 win against near neighbours Slovakia last night, that they wouldn’t be playing and had instructed their players to return to their clubs.

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Steve Clarke’s side are due in Olomouc on MondayCredit: PA:Press Association
They were already without West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and RB Leipzig striker Patrik Schick after the pair were told to self-isolate in midweek.
Then they lost the services of another squad member shortly before the match – only to play and win the Nations League tie in any case.
Czech FA bosses rejected accusations they did not strictly adhere to guidelines designed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
With a statement on their official Twitter account reading: “The national team will not play against Scotland on Monday due to representatives decision and the current situation with the COVID-19.

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The Czechs were shocked to hear that the Scotland match was off.
“The national team ends current preparations with the immediate effect straight after the win against Slovakia.”
But a Uefa spokesperson told the Scottish Sun today: “The match is going ahead as scheduled.”

Steve Clarke’s Scotland find themselves in the middle of this row – with their players being advised to train as normal in the likelihood that the match will go ahead as planned.
They are due to train at Oriam in Edinburgh at 12.30pm – but further communication from the SFA is expected this afternoon.

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