Rodgers’ comments leave door open for Dembele to make impression on first team

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has offered his encouragement to promising youngsters such as Karamoko Dembele that there is a potential route to his first-team plans, in an interview with Celtic TV.

Dembele turns 16 this week and at that stage he will be eligible for the senior squad, offering him an opportunity to continue his rapid progression.

As the discussion moved towards Dembele, Rodgers said: “Throughout my career, I’ve always shown that [if you are good enough you are old enough].

“There has always been a number of young players in my teams, at 17, at 18. Age is no barrier for me, if they have the qualities. They have to do well in the reserves and in training, at some point their chance will come.”

Rodgers has made it clear that Dembele will not be in his plans overnight but if he continues to impress, he could be in the first-team plans by the end of the season.

There is no reason Dembele won’t continue to progess as planned – he is an outstanding talent with the world at his feet already – and he is fortunate to be working under a manager who is willing to give young players a chance.

Rodgers gave Raheem Sterling a chance at Liverpool at just 16 and Dembele is a similarly precocious talent.

If he continues to progress as planned, Dembele could be a total wildcard up Rodgers’ sleeve as the title race livens up in the closing months of the season.