Rodgers: Le cap fits for Dembele

MOUSSA DEMBELE will be the new French national team talisman, according to Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

The Hoops striker has been tipped to go to the very top in the game by his gaffer and reckons the Parkhead hot shot has what it takes to be leading man for the French on the world stage.

Already capped at six age levels for his country, 20-year-old Dembele has yet to earn a full cap for Didier Deschamps’ senior team.

However, it is only a matter of time for Rodgers, who said: “There’s no doubt in the next decade he’ll be leading France and being a real reference for the full national team.

“If he keeps the mentality that he has now, which is to work, to improve and be better, then he can achieve what he wants to achieve.

“We do a lot of work looking to improve his movement, his finishing, his game intelligence and his understanding of the game in the different moments.

“We do a lot of work on being clinical in the box. He scores lots of goals from inside the box.

“We try and improve his link-up play outside the box and give him an understanding of pressing the game.

“But he’s got so many big qualities. His base is really good. It’s just about improving.

“But that will come with playing games and getting more experienced at the highest level.”

The Celtic manager has not been short on praise for the former Fulham kid who he managed to keep hold of during a nervy transfer window for Hoops fans.

Having worked with serious talent at Liverpool in the form of Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho to name but a few, the Northern Irishman knows a good player when he sees one.

“He’s got huge potential,” said Rodgers. “He’s just turned 20 years of age.

“I’ve worked with some really top young talents. I took Coutinho from Inter Milan at 19, Sterling at 17, Suso I put in the team and he’s at AC Milan now.

“he’s certainly up there with the big talents. He has a fantastic mentality which helps him.

“He has talent but he’s also very focused on being a footballer.”