Celtic should resist temptation to start Moussa Dembele against Anderlecht

Follow us on Google Discover

Celtic will be looking for a positive result in their final Champions League group-stage game, and have been handed an injury boost.

Celtic have been handed a major boost ahead of their Champions League group-stage clash with Anderlecht with the news that Moussa Dembele will be fit for the game, as reported by BBC Sport.

Dembele has missed the Hoops’ last two games, but is set to be available to Brendan Rodgers if he wants to use him at Parkhead on Wednesday when the Belgian side visit.

It may be extremely tempting for Rodgers to use the Frenchman given that the Bhoys are not guaranteed a spot in the last 32 of the Europa League just yet – but he should surely consider resting him or perhaps leaving him on the substitutes’ bench.

Celtic are in a brilliant position to stay in Europe after Christmas. Having beaten Anderlecht 3-0 in their previous encounter, Celtic only need to avoid a heavy defeat to book their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Odsonne Edouard proved at the weekend how dangerous he could potentially be as he scored a hat-trick to inspire Celtic to a 5-1 win over Motherwell, while Leigh Griffiths will be raring to go after starting just once since the end of October.

Neither player is so bad an option that if the unthinkable does happen and Celtic do end up bottom of the group, it could be argued that Dembele’s presence would have changed the outcome that drastically.

It therefore, makes much more sense for Rodgers to rest Dembele to ensure that he is not brought back into the fold too early and risks aggravating his injury, as much as the Frenchman will probably be keen to get out there.