Moussa Dembele is believed to be winning his fight to play in Wednesday night’s second round UEFA Champions League tie against Rosenborg.
The French striker was forced out of last week’s comprehensive win against Armernian side Alashkert with a tight hamstring but it’s believed the move was mostly precautionary.
Dembele has had an impressive start to the season and has struck up an intriguing partnership with Odsonne Edouard. Ensuring he is fit for the qualifiers will be vital for Brendan Rodgers side who face another three qualification rounds as they seek to make it back into the group stages of Europe’s premier competition.
Read more: Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers wary of losing players as English window closes early
It is a boost for Celtic who have problems defensively for the game against the Norwegians in Glasgow on Wednesday night.
Mikael Lustig has jetted back into Glasgow in order to help shore up Celtic’s defensive crisis although it is thought that there will be no cutting into the holiday time of Dedryck Boyata this week.
Lustig was granted additional time off after playing with Sweden at the FIFA World Cup. The Swedes made it to the quarter-finals of the tournament where they lost 2-0 to England.
The full-back was given time two weeks’ off after playing for the full season. Lustig was back in Glasgow this morning although it is expected that Wednesday’s game against Rosenborg in the UEFA Champions League second round qualifier will come too soon for him.
With Jozo Simunovic suspended for the opening leg after his red-card against Alashkert last week, Celtic have a problem at the heart of defence.
Boyata helped Belgium to a third place finish in Russia and is still enjoying a family holiday. It is understood that there are no plans to recall him early in order to supplement the defensive choices at the club.
Meanwhile, Celtic flop Derk Boerrigter has admitted that he outstayed his welcome at the club as he couldn’t walk away from the money on offer.
Read more: Tam McManus: Adam Rooney's move to Salford City is all about cash
The Dutch winger earned £12,000 per week at Celtic, having joined the club from Ajax for £3m in 2013. A succession of injuries meant he scarcely featured for the team and Celtic attempted to clear him off the wage bill.
Boerrigter resisted Celtic's attempts to move him on and remained at the club until 2016, banking his weekly wage without kicking a first team ball.
The Dutchman admitted that Celtic wanted to pay him three months' salary to terminate his deal, but the money he earned at the Scottish giants was just too good to walk away from when no agreement could be found.
"They wanted to get rid of me", Boerrigter admitted to exprofs.nl. "But I stayed and, I say this honestly, it was because of the money.
"The salary was too good to give up, and especially if you see what my club history was.
"I played football in the Jupiler League [Dutch second tier], not just for an apple and an egg, but you will not get rich from it.
"We still negotiated, Celtic wanted to give me three months' salary, but I wanted something more and that did not materialise.
"Then I stayed and got all 12 [months]", the Dutchman added.
Boerrigter made a total of 26 appearances for Celtic during his time at the club, scoring a single goal and providing two assists.
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