Rodgers: We’re not taking gamble as Moussa is ready to play

BRENDAN RODGERS insists there is no risk with pitching Moussa Dembele into the Scottish Cup Final.

The star striker hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury against Rangers in the semi-final last month.

But Rodgers is adamant there is no gamble with 32-goal Dembele, right, playing some part against Aberdeen after training during the week.

He said: “Moussa is fine. He will be in the squad. He has trained all week. Dembele could have trained towards the end of last week.

“But we have been doing a lot of the individual work with the players.

“So he has been out on the pitch for a few weeks, but this was his first full week back in. Obviously, he is not match or game fit having been out for a little period of time.

“But he is certainly going to be able to be in the squad.

“He is fit. Of course it gives a positive attitude to the team to have him

CRAIG SWAN

available as he is a top-class striker.

“We have always adapted and coped with availability and non-availability.

“If he wasn’t fit, we would have done the same again, but, thankfully, he is fit, he is ready and willing to contribute. Of course, you are testing everything beforehand.

“That is the whole idea of when Dembele is in the first or second stage of his rehabilitation.

“That is when people are measuring his multi-directional work to ensure the hamstring is still strong. Of course, you can never be 100 per cent sure but he only comes into his final stage of rehabilitation, with the group, if we think he is ready.

“Dembele has trained all week with no reactions at all, so if we need him he will be there.”