Chris Sutton has fired back at Odsonne Edouard's critics and insists the service for the Celtic striker has not been good enough this season.
The Frenchman wasn't his usual self in Celtic's narrow 1-0 win over Riga on Thursday night, leading to claims his performance suggested he is looking for a move away from Parkhead.
Edouard has continually been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Leicester City this summer, but the champions hope to keep him for their Ten in a Row push.
And Sutton has hit back at the talisman's snipers insisting he just had an off night in Latvia and Celtic's system is at fault for not getting the best out of him as Neil Lennon searches for the best formula during the early stages of the season.
The former striker also believes Edouard isn't the type of player to throw the toys out of the pram even if he was looking to leave the club.
He said in his Daily Record column: "There are some Celtic fans questioning the attitude of Odsonne Edouard after his low-key performance in Riga.
"The only one I would be asking is, where was the service?
"I’m not having this idea the Frenchman wasn’t interested the other night. I get he didn’t have the best of nights but it was a horrible game in Latvia.
"Celtic got the job done but I know what these games can be like. Riga were not interested in playing, it was a total containment job.
"The Old Firm face the same most weeks in Scotland but if Celtic managed to pinch a late winner at Rugby Park then nobody would be complaining too much.
"Riga made life awkward for Copenhagen last season and they did it again on Thursday night.
"It would have been a complete disaster if Celtic had gone out – but they didn’t.
"They are in the play-offs and face a stiff test in Sarajevo next week. Neil Lennon’s side have won five on the bounce but you’d think they are in crisis the way some people are going on.
"They are not in crisis but that doesn’t mean they are firing on all cylinders, because that is clearly not the case.
"Edouard has been the focus from the other night and I admit the mixed messages have created confusion. He had come back from injury and looks like he needs games, yet Lennon said he was tired and needed rested.
"He wasn’t at the races in Latvia but there is absolutely nothing in the player’s character that suggests he’s about to down tools or look for a move away.
"It could have just been an off night. Believe me, it happens. The bigger concern is the system is not playing to his strengths.
"I go back to the short time when Celtic had Moussa Dembele and Edouard playing together. They looked dynamite as a partnership and it was such a shame they couldn’t have teamed up for longer.
"Then you look at the second half of last season with Leigh Griffiths. Edouard looks more comfortable in a two up top but for some reason Celtic went with a 3-4-1-1 the other night.
"Leaving out Albian Ajeti was a strange one for me. He needs games to get fully fit and Riga was an ideal chance to get the two of them on the pitch. Let him get a goal and then give him a break after 60 minutes if necessary. Perhaps the question is if Lennon believes they can play as a pair."
