MOUSSA DEMBELE will be the new French national team talisman according to Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

The Hoops striker has been tipped to go to the very top in the game by his gaffer and reckons the Parkhead hot shot has what it takes to be leading man for the French on the world stage.

Already capped at six age levels for his country, 20-year-old Dembele has yet to earn a full cap for Didier Deschamps' senior team.

However, it is only a matter of time for Rodgers, who said: "There’s no doubt in the next decade he’ll be leading France and being a real reference for the full national team.

"If he keeps the mentality that he has now, which is to work, to improve and be better, then he can achieve what he wants to achieve.

"he has all the qualities and he’s a good guy as well.

"We do a lot of work looking to improve his movement, his finishing, his game intelligence and his understanding of the game in the different moments.

"We do a lot of work on being clinical in the box. He scores lots of goals from inside the box.

"We try and improve his link-up play outside the box and give him an understanding of pressing the game.

"But he’s got so many big qualities. His base is really good. It’s just about improving. But that will come with playing games and getting more experienced at the highest level."

The Celtic manager has not been short on praise for the former Fulham kid who he managed to keep hold of during a nervy transfer window for Hoops fans.

Having worked with serious talent at Liverpool in the form of Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho to name but a few, the Northern Irishman knows a good player when he sees one.

"He’s got huge potential," said Rodgers. "He’s just turned 20 years of age. I’ve worked with some really top young talents. I took Coutinho from Inter Milan at 19, Sterling at 17, Suso I put in the team and he’s at AC Milan now.

"he’s certainly up there with the big talents. He has a fantastic mentality which helps him. He has talent but he’s also very focused on being a footballer."

You wouldn't bet against Dembele adding to his goal tally when Inverness Caley Thistle come to Celtic Park in the William Hill Scottish Cup today either.

After all, the striker was only on the park for half an hour against St Johnstone but still managed to bag himself a hat-trick.

It was an effort that didn't go unnoticed by Rodgers, but it was also recognised by his team-mates too.

Right-back Mikael Lustig said: “He is here to score goals. He came on and scored the penalty with his first touch. It seems quite simple, the things he does, but he is always in the box and when he gets a chance, he scores. That’s the best thing you can have as a striker.

“Absolutely [it's amazing he wasn't fit but still scored a hat-trick] but we have to give the other lads credit too, they had been running for the full game and in the last 20 minutes you see teams getting tired and that’s when we create chances and when a guy like

"Moussa coming on, it’s perfect.”