Celtic’s French contingent grew this summer with the arrivals of Olivier Ntcham and Odsonne Edouard, with Moussa Dembele delighted with the mark that his mate Ntcham has already left on the Hoops team.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been a seamless addition to Brendan Rodgers’ squad, not that that has come as a surprise to the French striker.

Dembele and Ntcham had a close friendship prior to the former Manchester City player’s move to Glasgow in July, with Dembele claiming some satisfaction that his prediction of the player’s impact at the club being realised.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers regards League Cup as the most important trophy of his Celtic career​

Glasgow Times: 07/09/17 . CELTIC TRAINING . LENNOXTOWN . Celtic's Olivier Ntcham (left) and Moussa Dembele.

“I think you have all seen what he is capable of already,” he said. “When I knew that he was coming here I thought he would be a great signing and I think you can see that. He will score goals, he is a threat, but he can pass the ball and knows how to keep possession.

“He is always very comfortable when has the ball. He doesn’t get rushed. I know that he has settled very well. I think the way that we play here at Celtic was always going to suit him and we have been able to see that.

“He looks very comfortable and I am sure that he will be a big player for us this season. It is good for me because we are good friends but I think it is also good for the club to have a player like that here because he is s such a big talent.”

Dembele’s own status among the Hoops support gained significant stock last term which his hat-trick against Rangers in the inaugural meeting between the two clubs.

Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reveals plan to get Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths starting together​

Celtic’s 5-1 win that afternoon set the tone for the season and also set up the French striker for a pivotal role in Rodgers’ forward line.

As Celtic prepare for tomorrow night’s game against Dundee followed by a trip to Ibrox on Saturday, Dembele sees no reason, however, to either treat the game any differently to any other or to advise his new team-mates about the welcome they might expect.

“Will I prepare them to go to Ibrox?,” he said. “They just need to go and enjoy themselves, play football and let everything else take care of itself. It is a good place to go and play football and I have only good memories of playing there.”

Dembele made a scoring return to the Celtic first-team this weekend when he featured for an hour in the game against Ross County. It was the player’s first goal of the season but if he plans on bettering the 32 of last term, he is keeping it quiet.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers regards League Cup as the most important trophy of his Celtic career​

The striker is liable to be nursed back to full fitness after barely featuring since April because of the hamstring problem but his main aim is simply to be making a contribution.

Rodgers revealed yesterday that there was some tightness in the muscle and it might mean that there is a break for Dembele tomorrow night at Dens Park with one eye on Ibrox and then Brussels.

“We will see,” said the striker. “I didn’t feel any issues after the game. I felt good but sometimes it can be later on when there is a reaction.

“It can be frustrating. It is good to be back but the other guys are probably ahead of me now in terms of their match fitness. I have missed a lot of game time and I need to try to get myself back to that level. But I feel good to have got back onto the pitch.

Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reveals plan to get Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths starting together​

“It was nice to score. I always like to score and that is my job. I never think about how many I can score over a season.

“Last season is gone and it is just about looking at this as a fresh challenge. I hope that I can score goals and have a big part to play for the team.”

Dembele’s sense of frustration was compounded last week as lack of game time meant he had to watch the defeat to Paris-Saint Germain in the opening game of the group from the sidelines.

However, despite the brutal nature of the evening he remains upbeat about Celtic’s chances of aiming for European involvement beyond Christmas.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers regards League Cup as the most important trophy of his Celtic career​

The games against Anderlecht will be key in realising that ambition with the trip to Brussels next week to face the Belgians, who parted company with their manager yesterday, a massive night for the Parkhead side.

“You want to be able to play and to contribute,” said Dembele.

“You want to help the lads and have a part to play so it was not an easy game to sit and watch. It can be different when they team are doing well and although you want to play it is not the same as when it is a game when they are having a hard time. You want to help.

“But we are still confident. We can show what we can do. We have to go to Anderlecht and show what we can and the best way to do that is by playing the way we can. We have great togetherness and although it was very disappointing, we believe we can still try to do well in this group. It is only one game. It is how we recover from it now that matters.”