MOUSSA DEMBELE will play in far bigger matches than this for Celtic but you only get one chance to make a first impression and his was a hugely positive one.

The summer signing from Fulham possesses a fine touch, is quick and for someone who will only turn 20 next week has the build of a man. An extremely big man at that. Exactly what his team have needed.

It might be a tad premature to make comparisons with John Hartson or Chris Sutton on the back of this performance in the Slovenian capital but he’s no Carlton Cole or Colin Kazim-Richards and, for that, the Celtic support should be thankful.

Read more: Brendan Rodgers claims Leigh Griffiths can score from any position in the Celtic team

Dembele playing through the middle meant Leigh Griffiths, who scored as usual, operated wider right, the two linked up really well and, there will be more than one fan heartened with the 4-3-3 formation.The Herald:

So what can we make of the Brendan Rodgers’s era so far? All four weeks of it.

Well, such matches so early in the summer only really hint at best about what could be about to come. Nothing can be judged in its entirety when players have yet to arrive and leave, and everyone is still getting to know one another.

However, what could be taken from this, on top of what happened in the previous two games, is that the players get what is expected of them.

They press with conviction when not in possession, with the ball they pass quickly from front to back, there was a lot of one-touch stuff, and while it will of course take time for everything to click into place, the intention is already there.

Kieran Tierney has bulked up, Griffiths as sharp as ever, Erik Sviatchenko appeared to have taken up from where he ended last season when he was his team’s best defender, while Nir Bitton, who may or may not join Espanyol, was more the classy midfielder we saw in the first half of last season.

We got a glimpse of, perhaps, the future with just over two minutes having been played. Not for the first time in the early opening exchanges, Dembele controlled the ball with his back to goal and tightly marked, he easily turned his man and laid a pass into Griffiths.

On this occasion the left foot curling shot from was off target; however, the move would have pleased Rodgers. This is the fluid football he wants to see.

Ljubljana won their own league last season and are a few weeks ahead in terms of their pre-season so provided a decent test. The pace of the game was lively enough.The Herald: Brendan Rodgers has been impressed with the attitude of Stefan Johansen

Dembele had his first effort on 17 minutes, a shot from 18 yards which went straight to Ljubljana goalkeeper Aleksander Seliga who was helped by the fact one of his defenders managed to slow down the ball which was travelling at some pace.

And then on 27 minutes, Griffiths scored a goal out of next to nothing, which he is extremely adapt at.

After some crisp passing from Celtic in the final third, the ball broke to the striker on the edge of the opposition box, Griffiths smartly turned his man and then sent a superb low shot home and the near post.

Dembele was given an opportunity to score what would have been a spectacular first when, minutes before the break, Tierney and Liam Henderson combined well down the left, the former sent over a cross which was aimed towards the Frenchman by Stefan Johansen and, while the new man did get off his volley, his aim was well off.

Dembele was unfortunate not to score within seconds of the second-half. A good run and pass from Johansen allowed the striker to get inside the box, he cut back on his right foot courtesy of a lovely back flick with his heel, only for Seliga to spoil things for him by getting down low to make a smart save.

At the other end, Zacj put a shot past the post from 12 yards when it looked simpler to score.

Celtic’s second came on 55 minutes. Griffiths picked up the ball close to the halfway line, he ran at the Ljubljana defence, got the ball on his lethal left foot and from 25 yards planted a shot in the bottom corner. It was another terrific goal.

Within two minutes the impressive Zajc got his team back in the game with a fine finish of his own, a shot on the bounce which beat Gordon at his top corner.

A superb turn and pass by Dembele presented the energetic Henderson with a chance but more good goalkeeping kept out a Celtic player.

Several changes were made on the hour and while that usually disrupts the flow, Celtic immediately put together a superb move involving Saidy Janko, Griffiths, Nadir Cifti and Tom Rogic who was denied by the excellent Seliga.

And then Ryan Christie hit the bar from ten yards when he had the whole goal to aim for. He then had a shot well saved, but we were to have no more goals despite both sides continuing to press.

Rodgers would have been more than content with what his players had given him.