Brendan Rodgers will give Moussa Dembele the chance to prove his fitness ahead of Tuesday’s crucial game against AEK Athens in Greece.

The French striker has been out with a hamstring injury and while Rodgers initially felt that this tie would be too soon for him, he has intimated that he will give Dembele the chance to show he is fit.

However, he will not risk Dembele’s long-term availability if he suspects that he is not up to playing.

“We will see how it goes,” he said. “The medical guys have always felt it was going to be a push. We also have to see how Moussa is feeling himself. You can’t put a timeline on these sort of things.

“He is working very hard out on the training field. We will see how he goes. You always have to weigh up the risk.

“You always have to think of the longer term.

“If it was the last game of the season or a cup final then you can maybe look at it, but at this stage of the season, especially off the back of that type of injury, the last thing you want to do is put him out for another six weeks.

“That wouldn’t make sense, everything has to be in balance in terms of risk.”

Celtic play Hearts tomorrow at lunchtime before embarking on their journey to Greece.

And Rodgers joked that the lawnmowers haven’t been out at Lennoxtown this week in preparation for Celtic’s journey to the capital.

“We haven’t cut the grass here all week,” he smiled. “I expect it to be the same as it’s been in my time here.

“Everyone wants to see good football whatever the conditions we tend to play in.”