Celtic's Moussa Dembele won't risk fitness for cup final

Moussa Dembele is prepared to sacrifice the chance of helping Celtic complete the domestic treble this month in order to ensure he is in prime condition for the start of their Champions League qualifying campaign in July.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd May 2017, 22:43 BST
Updated 9th May 2017, 18:54 BST
Moussa Dembele injured his hamstring in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Rangers. Picture: John DevlinMoussa Dembele injured his hamstring in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Rangers. Picture: John Devlin
Moussa Dembele injured his hamstring in the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Rangers. Picture: John Devlin

It was initially believed the French striker’s season had been ended by the hamstring injury which forced him to limp out of Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over Rangers ten days ago. Dembele has responded well to treatment, however, and has not yet been ruled out of contention to return in time for the cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden on 27 May.

The 20-year-old has made a major contribution to Celtic’s dominant season with 32 goals to his credit, helping him make the short-list for both the PFA Scotland Player and Young Player of the Year awards announced yesterday. Dembele insists his priority as he recovers from injury is to be ready for Celtic’s first European match on 11 or 12 July, another indication of his contentment to remain with the Scottish champions despite constant transfer speculation linking him with a host of major English and continental clubs.

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“The injury is doing well,” said Dembele. “I’m working in the gym every day, trying to get fit. I don’t know if I’m ahead of schedule – I’m just working as hard as I can and we’ll see what happens. I’m just trying to get fit and, if that’s before the cup final, that would be good but if not I’ll just go on holiday and then come back for pre-season training. There’s a chance I could play in the final maybe but also maybe not. It’s three weeks until the final so there’s still time but I will listen to the physios. With an injury like this, you need to take care.

“Personally, I will need to be 100 per cent fit if I am to play, especially with a muscle injury. Otherwise, I will just get injured again so I will just take my time. If I am not fit in time for the final then I will come back stronger for the Champions League