Tom Rogic could be in line for a striker’s jersey against Rosenborg tonight as Celtic look to book their place in the play-off round of the Uefa Champions League.

Moussa Dembele did not train at Lennoxtown yesterday with the rest of the Celtic party, while Leigh Griffiths is suspended for the tie against the Norwegians.

Brendan Rodgers was reluctant to rule Dembele out entirely for the game although if it transpires that the French striker doesn’t make the game then the Hoops boss has hinted that it could be Rogic who assumes the forward position.

“I did a number of things last year,” said Rodgers. “I played Scott Sinclair up front, it didn’t work, so I had to change it. I played Pat [Roberts] up there, who was brilliant.

“In the Partick Thistle game [at the end of last season] for the last half hour I played Tom Rogic up there. Planning forward, thinking the ‘what if’. That was a false nine. So we’ll see.

“We still might be [at our strongest]. We didn’t have a striker at Hearts and we scored five.

“That’s what you need multiple goalscorers.

“We’ve got Rogic that scores, Sinclair that scores, James Forrest chips in, Armstrong that can score.

“We have enough goalscorers in there - just because it’s not a traditional goalscorer doesn’t mean you can’t score.

“You just have to find a different way if that is the case.

“It happens and it has happened so we have to find a way and we have done that a number of times last year. Tactically we look at the team, how can you find a way to play, and then quickly pull together a strategy and a plan that can get you a result.”

Rodgers has not given up entirely on Dembele making some kind of contribution to the game, although he would be wary of gambling on the fitness of the striker.

It is thought that the Frenchman will be given until this afternoon before a call is made on his availability.

“I think it’s one again where it’s about rationale and looking at where he’s at?,” said Rodgers. “If it’s a big risk – and that might be taken out of my hands totally because if he’s out, he’s out – I have to prepare for that as well over the next 24 hours.

“It’s one where I just think that this is obviously the conundrum up here, that they’re never going to be at full fitness. It’s the 24th of July. They’re just not going to be there, so you’re never going to have the player at 100 per cent.

“It’s the risk element to it, if there is a possibility. And of course these are big games for us but if it’s too much of a risk then no, I wouldn’t do it. I had it last year. We had things with the likes of Stuart Armstrong, guys that if they are feeling something or there is something there then you have to listen to them.”

In any case, Rodgers doesn’t expect to be too surprised by Rosenborg’s style this evening.

“I think they will want to be resolute and not open up too many spaces,” said the Celtic manager. “They are pretty straight forward in how they play - it’s 4-3-3.”