Brendan Rodgers has urged Moussa Dembele to produce a run of form that could elevate him into the senior French World Cup squad.

The 20-year-old striker netted an 11-minute hat-trick for his country at under-21 level last week on international duty and while Rodgers accepts there is significantly strong competition in front of Dembele, he believes the players can only ask the question by continuing to produce goals.

The forward is back to full fitness after a staccato six month period on which he struggled with two separate hamstring issues. However he is now back among the goals and fighting for a place in the French squad that will go to Russia this summer.

“Well, he can do no more,” said Rodgers. “He’s now up to speed in his fitness. He’s scoring goals for his club and got a great hat-trick for the France under-21s. It looks like he is developing and continuing - he can do no more.

“The only thing is that there is a group of really, really talented players in front of him in the France squad at the moment. But if he keeps knocking on the door, you never know. It may open for him.

“For all those boys, between now and the end of the season, they will want to be in with a chance of that. To do that, they need to play well.”

Celtic play PSG in the UEFA Champions League this coming week and it is the European arena where Dembele can underline his suitability for top level football.

In that respect, Celtic securing a Europa League place would also enable the player to continue featuring in Continental competition, an environment that will always carry far greater currency that the Scottish league.

“That’s right,” said Rodgers. “That’s something which can certainly get you the opportunity. Then you can do no more.”

Dembele’s return to full fitness coincides with a frantic run-in for Celtic between now and the end of the year, with European and domestic games ensuring a full calendar of midweek and weekend dates.

Having the French forward available and up to speed is a significant bonus for Rodgers.

“It was just a process with Moussa,” he said.Y”ou saw when he came back against Hibs, he was fit but he wasn’t football fit. He didn’t quite have that sharpness, which is why we played young Odsonne [Edouard] up there alongside him.

“But gradually he has been working and moving better. When you have that period out, you find the hunger a lot quicker when you come back.

“That was typified by his goals. One of his goals against St Johnstone, he’s set it up on the halfway line, spun and sprinted into the box. It’s always good to see players with that hunger to score.”