BRENDAN RODGERS is hoping Moussa Dembele will be fit to continue Celtic’s assault on the Champions League against Rosenborg at Parkhead on Wednesday.
The French striker, who netted two goals in the 3-0 triumph over Armenia’s Alashkert at Parkhead last night, limped off after the hour mark to be replaced by Ryan Christie.
Rodgers said: “He was tight at the back of his legs, so we will need to assess that tomorrow and in the next couple of days.
“He is as fit as he has been since I’ve been here at this stage of the season, so I hope it was just a tightness and he will be okay.”
Dembele, linking superbly with fellow-countryman Odsonne Edouard, terrorised the Armenians with some powerful, surging runs which was typified by his opening goal in the seventh minute.
He shrugged off tackle after tackle on the edge of the box, stumbled and then steadied himself before lashing a low drive into the net.
The second came from the penalty spot after the dodgy Romanian referee awarded a soft spot-kick. Dembele didn’t complain, though, as he rolled it casually past the keeper who went the wrong way.
In between the goals, Jozo Simunovic had been dismissed by the match official in the 10th minute, but the Hoops weren’t knocked out of their stride and James Forrest, making his 70th European appearance, angled in a fine effort for the third before half-time to give Rodgers’ side a 6-0 aggregate victory.
Now the champions are preparing for the visit of last season’s foes Rosenborg who just edged through 3-2 on aggregate against the Icelanders of Valur.
A solitary goal from Forrest in the second leg of the previous encounter in Trondheim settled the tie a year ago.
