Soccer

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers gives Moussa Dembele a chance of being fit to play in Scottish Cup final

Celtic striker Moussa Dembele grips his hamstring during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Rangers last weekend Picture: PA
Celtic striker Moussa Dembele grips his hamstring during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Rangers last weekend Picture: PA Celtic striker Moussa Dembele grips his hamstring during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Rangers last weekend Picture: PA

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has not ruled Moussa Dembele out of the William Hill Scottish Cup final.

The French striker pulled up in the first half of the 2-0 semi-final win over Rangers on Sunday with a hamstring injury.

It was believed that the 20-year-old would play no further part in Celtic's season but the Hoops boss claimed he still "has a chance" of facing Aberdeen at Hampden on May 27.

"He will be out for the foreseeable future," said Rodgers ahead of their Ladbrokes Premiership contest with their cross-city rivals at Ibrox tomorroew.

"He had his scan on his hamstring. We will monitor him and assess it over time and see how he reacts.

"There is a period of time with individuals with hamstrings which is never to say that he can't be back within that.

"He was on a bike today and moving the hamstring so we will see.

"It is a hamstring tear, not overly serious, but we will assess it over the next two to three weeks."

Meanwhile, Hoops skipper Scott Brown will be available to take his place in midfield at Ibrox tomorrow after a red card he received in the recent draw at Ross County was downgraded to a yellow.

Brown was dismissed for a challenge on Liam Boyce during the 2-2 Ladbrokes Premiership draw in Dingwall on April 16t.

Brown's appeal allowed him to play in the Scottish Cup semi-final win on Sunday.

And after a Scottish FA disciplinary tribunal met at Hampden yesterday to consider his claim of wrongful dismissal, the appeal was upheld with the sending off reduced to a caution.

Brown will play in the Old Firm derby but the yellow card takes him over the disciplinary threshold which triggers a two-game suspension which means he will sit out the subsequent matches against St Johnstone and Aberdeen.