BRENDAN RODGERS is confident Moussa Dembele will be up to speed for the Champions League after the French striker’s goalscoring return in the 1-1 draw with Rapid Vienna.
Last season’s 32-goal hitman thumped in a second-half penalty as the Hoops stepped up their pre-season preparations in Amstetten during their Austrian stay.
Dembele came on in the 60th minute as Rodgers changed an entire team and the 20-year-old attacker claimed his first goal since March having missed the last two months of the season with injury.
The Parkhead boss was delighted the youngster is back in business. He said: “You can see his composure for the penalty, he was so cool and calm before he stuck it away.
“And you can see his presence as well when he plays.
“Moussa has been with the French Under-21 team. He has been training and working and hasn’t had a lot of time off.
“He has come back in really good condition. He has been working hard and everyone is fighting for their place.”
Rodgers also praised £1.3million new Bhoy Jonny Hayes who came on at the same time as Dembele.
He said: “Jonny was excellent, too. You can see him working his way into it.
“His pace was very good. That is why we have brought him here. Those moments when you have to go up the pitch he has that great quality of speed and control.
“We also had Tom Rogic coming back in. He was outstanding. You can see he has been playing a lot over the last four or five weeks.
“So, yeah, it was a pleasing performance.
“I was much happier in terms of our tactical idea in the second-half. Most importantly at this stage, we got no injuries and a good level of fitness.”
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