---
title: "Celtic: McLeish reacts to Dembele injury"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-mcleish-reacts-to-dembele-injury/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-07-22T20:10:41Z"
modified: "2021-07-22T20:10:41Z"
---

# Celtic: McLeish reacts to Dembele injury

**[Football Insider pundit Alex McLeish](https://www.footballinsider247.com/ex-manager-raises-dembele-fears-after-significant-celtic-update/) has been having his say on the injury sustained to Celtic winger Karamoko Dembele during pre-season.**

### The Lowdown: Dembele’s injury

Dembele [scored for the Hoops in the first half of a 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic on July 10](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19434449.celtic-2-1-charlton-athletic-karamoko-dembele-albian-ajeti-goals-give-ange-postecoglou-second-pre-season-win/).

The 18-year-old was described as [‘hugely talented’ by Ange Postecoglou](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19434585.ange-postecoglou-celtic-wonderkid-karamoko-dembele-hugely-talented---see-no-reason-protect/), who backed Dembele to challenge for a place in his side during the upcoming campaign.

However, in the Hoops’ next pre-season friendly against Bristol City, Dembele and Mikey Johnston were forced off through [injury](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/7426956/postecoglou-celtic-injury-dembele-johnston/).

Postecoglou labelled the injuries as [‘significant’ earlier this week and expects the wide men to be ‘out for a period of time’](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/7426956/postecoglou-celtic-injury-dembele-johnston/).

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### The Latest: McLeish reacts

McLeish, 62, was talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/ex-manager-raises-dembele-fears-after-significant-celtic-update/) regarding Dembele, believing the latest injury could be ‘real trouble’.

> “Postecoglou’s been raving about him (Dembele).
>
> “We said if he’s good enough, he’s old enough. Sometimes young guys are still developing in terms of their muscles. They can pick up injuries.
>
> “If it’s an injury that is going to blight a career, then that is highly disconcerting and disappointing. It’s real trouble for any individual’s mentality.
>
> “He’s got to get back fit and play through these games to impress the manager again.”

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### The Verdict: Dembele misses chance to shine

With Postecoglou talking so highly of Dembele in pre-season, he may have been in line to feature in some capacity against FC Midtjylland.

[Ryan Christie and new signing Liel Abada were chosen out wide](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3584558), with James Forrest an unused substitute.

By the time Dembele returns to full fitness, [new addition Kyogo Furuhashi](https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/july/Celtic-delighted-to-sign-Japanese-internationalist-Kyogo-Furuhashi/) may well be established in attack, meaning there’s even more competition for places.

He may have missed a key chance to break through into Celtic’s first-team squad through injury, but hopefully, his time will come again.

[***In other news: Scott Burns claims £10k-p/w ace once likened to George Best is now Celtic’s top target.***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-george-baldock-now-hoops-top-target/)