Tuesday 28 November 2017

Moussa Dembele is a doubt for Anderlecth tie


Moussa Dembele is a doubt for Celtic's final Champions League group game against Anderlecht with an ankle injury, following a tackle by Motherwell's Cedric Kipre.

The France U21 striker is likely to miss both Premiership encounters against the Lanarkshire side - on 29 November and 2 December - despite staying on the pitch following the early blow during Sunday's League Cup final.


Celtic will not know whether Dembele will face the Belgian side at Parkhead on Tuesday, December 5, until the swelling settles down.

Dembele scored Celtic's second goal from the spot in their 2-0 win after Kipre was ordered off after tangling with Scott Sinclair, before departing the fray shortly afterwards.

Kipre, Dembele's former team-mate in the Paris Saint-Germain youth ranks, went unpunished for the first-half tackle and the Celtic striker was booked for a similar challenge on Carl McHugh moments later.
Cedric Kipre (left) challenges Moussa Dembele during the League Cup final


Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies said: "Moussa's got a bad knock and twist of the ankle. Thankfully it's not what it could have been, which is a long-term one.

"He was limping around after it. The more you watch it back in the replays, the worse it gets. He is, luckily, quite robust physically and he got away with it.

"It's likely he will be (out for the weekend as well). We will just have to see how he responds. Obviously it's swollen and sore. We will find out in the next few days."

Celtic won 3-0 at Anderlecht in September - when Dembele was an unused sub

Celtic will qualify for the Europa League knock-out stages if they avoid a 0-4 home defeat against Anderlecht.

Nir Bitton will also miss Wednesday's trip to Fir Park after a knock forced him out of the final.

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