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CL
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 5
May 19, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
HL

2-1

Johnston (2', 84')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Mulraney (18')

Lennon talks up promise of 16-year-old Dembele

:Headline: Lennon talks up promise of 16-year-old Dembele: ID:359730: from db_amp
The teenager impressed as a second-half substitute against Hearts.

Neil Lennon believes Celtic fans were given a "glimpse of the future" when 16-year-old Karamoko Dembele made his debut in the 2-1 win over Hearts at Parkhead.

Dembele replaced the injured Oliver Burke for the second half, with the game at 1-1 after fringe player Mikey Johnston's early opener had been cancelled out by Jake Mulraney.

Dembele went through his repertoire of tricks to the delight of the home fans, although it was 20-year-old Johnston who drove in the winner, giving the Hoops the win which meant they finished the season nine points ahead of Rangers, before they were presented with the Ladbrokes Premiership trophy for the eighth successive season.

Interim boss Lennon said of Dembele's cameo: "He was great to watch. He is the type of player that you want at Celtic.

"He gets the crowd off their feet with their football intelligence.

"Everyone talks about the skill, but his football intelligence was very good.

"I was delighted for him, Obviously we need to keep a lid on it, but it's great that the fans have seen the glimpse of the future.

"It was a great time, end of the season, 45 minutes.

"The kid is 16, we know how talented he is and we just want to develop him in the right way.

"He has been training with the first team and he has had a very good season with the development team and I had no hesitation giving him 45 minutes

"There was always a plan to give him some game time, but with Burkey going off we thought we should throw him in there and let him play."

Lennon made seven changes to the side which lost 2-0 against Rangers at Ibrox last week, with several regulars rested to get over niggles and knocks for the William Hill Scottish Cup final against the Gorgie side at Hampden Park next week, where the Hoops can clinch an unprecedented treble treble.

He said: "Filip Benkovic, Nir Bitton, Olivier Ntcham, Scott Sinclair needed game time and it was important that they played for match sharpness and fitness and all the things you get from the game today, bearing in mind that they could be involved in the final next week."

Jambos boss Craig Levein revealed midfielder Olly Lee, who was replaced by Ryan Edwards, was a major doubt for the cup final.

The Jambos boss, whose side will go into the game with one win in nine, said: "He has twisted his knee so it doesn't sound great.

"He wasn't supposed to start, but Harry Cochrane got ill and I put Olly in.

"It is never good when he goes back on and comes off again.

"That is the one downside.

"I'm hoping Peter Haring, Arnaud Djoum and Uche Ikpeazu will be fit for next week.

"It wasn't low key but I am sure there will be much more going on next week."

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718
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