Dembele set for first French cap
MOUSSA DEMBELE is set to make his debut for the senior France international team next month as reward for his sensational first season in Scotland. The French national side’s head coach, Didier Deschamps, sent a scout to Celtic’s 6-0 Scottish Cup win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday when the 20-year-old scored his second hat-trick in only six days. Dembele now has 26 goals from 40 appearances so far in this increasingly astonishing campaign plus four for
the French Under-21. This includes a double against England and he is well on course to match the tally of 40 which Leigh Griffiths reached last season.
It is understood Deschamps has sent scouts to Scotland several times in the past few months to watch a player whose reputation since signing from Celtic has grown from relative unknown to now being seen as one of the best young strikers in European football.
This would be the first time Dembele got a call-up to the A squad and his hope will be to impress and give himself a chance of making the World Cup in Russia next year.
The French currently top their group which includes the Netherlands and Sweden.
Deschamps is a long-time admirer of Dembele and the fact France’s next two games are away to minnows Luxembourg in a qualifier on March 25 and then Spain at home three days later in a friendly match means it is the perfect time to blood some new talent.
And Celtic’s man of the moment is set to make his debut which would cap an astonishing rise since for the player his £500,000 summer move from English Championship side Fulham.
“There are many young players that I consider that there is great potential for bringing to the inter-national stage,” admitted Deschamps last month.
“For instance we have Moussa Dembele at Celtic, who is a big talent.
“Sometimes you can promote the kids too soon, but some just have that ability that would make them hard to ignore. I will be spoiled for choice in 2017.”
Dembele now has 45 goals from 104 senior career appearances and he, along with Celtic captain Scott Brown, are sure to dominate the individual awards towards the end of this season.