MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 01:00:30| >> :120:28386:28386:

Moussa Dembele ruled out until September

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reveals that in-demand striker Moussa Dembele could be sidelined until September with a hamstring injury.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Moussa Dembele could be sidelined until early September with a hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old suffered with a similar problem towards the end of last season but returned to feature in both legs of Celtic's Champions League qualifying triumph over Linfield.

However, the in-demand striker is now expected to miss the start of the new Scottish Premiership season, which begins on August 5 when Celtic take on Hearts.

"It could be to the beginning of September. It looks like Moussa may well be out for the whole of the campaign, this European [qualifying] campaign so we have to adapt," Rodgers told reporters.

"That was the sort of diagnosis, really. It's just unfortunate, really. It happens. Throughout the course of the season, unfortunately for those players with that speed and strength, there are always hamstring niggles.

"We saw it last year with Moussa, we saw it with James Forrest, we saw it with Scott Sinclair, we saw it with Patrick Roberts when Pat was here. Nothing we can do. We have to heal, work hard to get back as quick as he can, knowing that it's going to be a real long season for us."

Dembele scored 32 goals to help fire Celtic to the domestic treble last season.

ID:303526: cacheID:303526:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2440:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Celtic striker Moussa Dembele shoots during his side's 7-0 defeat to Barcelona in a Champions League match at the Camp Nou on September 13, 2016
Read Next:
Rodgers: 'No offers for Dembele'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1211103543134
2Aberdeen13102128151332
3RangersRangers12723179823
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd135531914520
5Motherwell126151616019
6St Mirren145361923-418
7Dundee134362225-315
8Ross County143651222-1015
9St Johnstone144191727-1013
10Kilmarnock133371526-1112
11Hearts142391524-99
12Hibernian141671525-109


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!