MOUSSA Dembele believes he has returned “stronger and fitter” from injury after scoring his first goal in six months. The Frenchman, starting his first match since sustaining a hamstring injury in the Champions League qualifying tie against Linfield in July, scored Celtic’s second goal as they bounced back from the midweek Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain by taking four off Ross County at home without reply. Tom Rogic and James Forrest (twice) were also on the scoresheet.
Dembele partnered Leigh Griffiths in attack as manager Brendan Rodgers switched to a 3-1-4-2 formation, and could now come into contention for Wednesday night’s Betfred Cup tie at Dundee and then next weekend’s league derby against Rangers at Ibrox.
“It is good to finally be back,” said Celtic’s top scorer last season. “It has been a long two months for me and I’m happy to be back on the pitch. When I’m out there I try to do my best to help the team to win. It was good to be on the scoresheet as well.
“It has been frustrating but that happens in the game and you have to stay focused so that you come back even better. I do feel different now. I have been away for a few weeks and I have come back stronger and fitter.
“I do want to play the game [against Rangers at Ibrox] but I have to be conscious that I have to go easy. When I play I have to give 100 per cent. I will train all week and try to be ready for next week’s game. We will see what happens.”
The French under-21 international spent a chunk of his rehabilitation at his country’s national football centre at Clairefontaine and declared it beneficial.
“I wanted to go there,” he added. “It is one of the best medical centres in the world. I went there and did my stuff so I have come back as fit as I was before the injury and I feel good. I want to give myself every chance to be fitter and not have this injury again.”
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