Dembele could miss crucial Champions League clash

Moussa Dembele is a doubt for Celtic’s final Champions League group game against Anderlecht after feeling the effects of a challenge by Motherwell defender Cedric Kipre.

The France U21 striker is likely to miss both of this week’s Ladbrokes Premiership encounters against the Lanarkshire side despite initially staying on the pitch following the early blow during Sunday’s Betfred Cup final.

Celtic will not know until the swelling settles down whether he will face the Belgian side at Parkhead next Tuesday.

Dembele scored Celtic’s second goal from the spot in their 2-0 win after Kipre was sent off following a controversial incident with Scott Sinclair, but went off soon afterwards.

Kipre, Dembele’s former team-mate in the Paris St Germain youth ranks, went unpunished for the tackle after going over the top of the ball and the Celtic striker was booked for a similar challenge on Carl McHugh moments later.

Celtic will qualify for the Europa League knock-out stages if they avoid a fourgoal home defeat against Anderlecht and Dembele could be struggling to make the game.

Nir Bitton will also miss tonight’s trip to Fir Park after a knock forced him out of the final.

Meanwhile, Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson has revealed the club decided not to appeal against Cedric Kipre’s Hampden red card after wasting time and money on previous wrongful dismissal claims.

Kipre will miss a League Cup tie next season – in the group stages if Motherwell do not qualify for Europe.