SHOW DEM YOU MERIT A SPOT
BRENDAN RODGERS has urged Moussa Dembele to force his way into the France World Cup squad with a barrage of goals for Celtic.
The Hoops striker has yet to be called up for senior duty with Les Bleus, but was named in a provisional squad for last week’s double header against Germany and Wales.
He ended up dropping down to the Under-21 side and gave another example of his burgeoning talent with an 11-minute hat-trick.
The hitman has scored seven goals in eight starts for the U21s and Rodgers (inset) says the carrot is there over the next seven months for him to really push for a place in Didier Deschamps’ final cut. Rodgers said: “He’s now up to speed in his fitness. He’s scoring goals for his club and got a great hat-trick for the France Under-21s.
“It looks like he is developing and continuing. He can do no more.
“The only thing is that there is a group of really, really talented players in front of him in the France squad at the moment. “I’ve spoken to the manager (Deschamps) before, but
I’m not in regular contact with him.
“But, if he keeps knocking on the door, you never know. It may open for him.”
Rodgers has six players back in contention after injury ahead of today’s trip to Ross County.
Skipper Scott Brown, Leigh Griffiths, Patrick Roberts, Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko and Stuart Armstrong will all be assessed. Anthony Ralston is recovering from a knee injury while Tom Rogic is out after being on international duty with Australia.