Brendan Rodgers claims Karamoko Dembele is already talented enough to play for Celtic’s first-team

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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is a huge fan of youngster Karamoko Dembele.

Brendan Rodgers has told the Herald Scotland that Celtic youngster is Karamoko Dembele is already capable of playing for his first-team, if judged purely on talent.

Dembele is considered to be Celtic’s brightest young talent, despite only being 14-years-old.

The youngster has made headlines after starring for Celtic’s under-20 side last season, and Rodgers feels that Dembele could play at an even higher level already.

However, Rodgers suggests that he is looking to protect Dembele from playing senior football at this time, and other managers should follow suit.

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has been criticised for injuring Harry Cochrane in the Bhoys’ last match against Hearts.

Cochrane was selected to start for Hearts at the age of 16, and Rodgers has questioned whether the youngster should have been given more protection.

“You could argue or ask the question‘does a 16-year-old need to be in a game against a Champions League team at home?’ I think he can play in it, but it’s a question that may be asked. Can he handle it?

“I am sure Craig will look at that as well. For me, he looks a lad with good temperament. You get young players like that who it doesn’t matter if they are playing in front of 10 or 100,000.

“Does the duty of care lie with the manager? Yeah, absolutely. From a talent perspective I could probably put Karamoko Dembele in to the first team right now. But he’s coming up to 15.

“I have to think about where he is at in terms of his maturation level. Not just his talent level.”

It appears to only be a matter of time before Dembele’s senior debut for Celtic does come.

The young attacker is already attracting admiring glances from a range of clubs, and the hope is that he can develop into a star of the future at Parkhead.