Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers host Old Firm rivals Celtic in 11 days.
Steven Thompson has told BBC Sport that Celtic hitman Moussa Dembele has “gone off the boil a wee bit” and believes the upcoming clash with Rangers will indicate who the Hoops’ best striker is.
The 20-year-old striker has been a revelation in Scottish football this season following a £500,000 switch from Fulham, netting 17 times in all competitions.
But the young Frenchman has endured a tough time of it lately and has failed to find the net in any of his last five matches for Celtic.
Leigh Griffiths has capitalised on his team-mate’s lack of form and has found the net in each of his last three Premiership outings to give manager Brendan Rodgers a headache when the Hoops visit Old Firm rivals Rangers on December 31.
Griffiths is the man in form, but Dembele has hit four goals in his last two games against the Gers – including a hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition at Parkhead back in September – but Thompson says the Scot deserves the number nine shirt.
“For me Griffiths has the jersey and he should be starting just now”, Thompson said to BBC Sport.
“He’s scoring week in, week out and there’s no doubt Dembele has gone off the boil a wee bit.
“That’s [the Rangers game] when we will find out who is going to be his number one [striker]. He’ll pick his strongest team for that Rangers game.”
Griffiths netted 40 times in all competitions last season so Rodgers simply has two ridiculously talented options, and of course he could elect to field both.
Celtic have cruised past Rangers in both of their meetings this season; the infamous 5-1, but also a very one-sided 1-0 win over them in a Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
Whether it’s Griffiths or Dembele, Mark Warburton’s side could struggle – even if it is at home. Rodgers and co have been too good.
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