Celtic’s Dembele oozes quality, says Rodgers

GLASGOW: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised the quality of striker Moussa Dembele after the French forward fired the Glasgow giants to their 21st league victory in a row.

The French Under-21 international grabbed both goals in the 2-0 win over bottom club Hamilton Academical at Celtic Park to take his tally to 29 goals in 42 games since joining the Hoops from Fulham in the summer.

Dembele, who started his career as a youth player with Paris St Germain, has been linked with a move to the English Premier League in the summer and is tipped to earn a callup to the France senior squad for their games against Luxembourg and Spain next month.

And Rodgers was delighted with his contribution after he helped Celtic maintain their 24-point lead over Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a first-half strike and a second-half penalty for his ninth goal in four games.

“The boy absolutely oozes quality. For a 20-year-old, to see the improvements he is making is absolutely fantastic,” the Celtic manager said.

“He was outstanding today. He could have had another hat-trick but that doesn’t matter – he got two.

“The first goal was great and the second goal was great composure again to finish.”

Rodgers replaced Dembele with fellow striker Leigh Griffiths in the 72nd minute with the French forward chasing a hat-trick, and the 20-year-old appeared unhappy with the decision as he trudged off the pitch.

However, his manager said it was important to give Griffiths some game time as he fights back to fitness following an injury lay-off.

“I think he looked alright. He was lapping up the applause and he was enjoying it, but all players, whether it is a striker or not, want a hat-trick,” Rodgers said of Dembele, who had already scored two trebles in February.

“But like I have said before, there is no individual bigger than the team.” — AFP