MOUSSA Dembele made a scoring return to action for Celtic this afternoon as the Scottish champions bounced back from their five goal mauling by Paris Saint-Germain with an emphatic 4-0 win over Ross County at Parkhead.

The French striker, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Champions League qualifier against Linfield back in July, netted his side’s second goal, and his first since back in March, three minutes before half-time.

The 21-year-old, who became a hero to supporters of the Glasgow club last season by bagging 32 goals in all competitions, was replaced by Edouard Odsonne after an hour to huge ovation from the crowd.

The return of Dembele and the comfortable win - which stretched the lead Celtic hold over Aberdeen at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table to two points - was the perfect response to the heavy home loss to PSG on Tuesday evening.

It was their 55th domestic fixture without defeat and put them five points ahead of their city rivals Rangers ahead of their visit to Ibrox in the league next Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers, whose side play Dundee at Dens Park in the Betfred Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night, was even able to rest several first team regulars.

Mikael Lustig, Olivier Ntcham, Patrick Roberts and Scott Sinclair, who had all started the PSG match, found themselves on the bench along with Callum McGregor and Edouard Odsonne.

The home team fielded an unfamiliar line-up with Nir Bitton and Anthony Ralston on either side of Jozo Simunovic in a three man backline. Elsewhere, Jonny Hayes got a rare start on the left flank

County winger Michael Gardyne tried his luck from long-range after 10 minutes and managed to get his low effort on target, but Craig Gordon dealt with it easily.

Rogic put the home team in front shortly after that when James Forrest cut the ball back to him on the edge of the visitors’ area.

The Australian fired a dipping left foot effort at goal and goalkeeper Aaron McCarey, who was possibly unsighted when his opponent struck his shot, was unable to keep it out of the bottom left corner of his net.

Forrest went close after that and Ralston, the 18-year-old right back who had been thrown in against Neymar, the most expensive player in the world, on Tuesday evening, also struck the post.

Dembele added to his side’s tally in the 42nd minute when he received the ball from Leigh Griffiths, sidestepped Marcus Fraser and curled a sublime shot beyond the outstretched McCarey.

Gordon maintained Celtic’s two goal advantage six minutes after the restart when he produced an exceptional double save from first Craig Curran and then Davis Kellior-Dunn.

Forrest scored the home team’s third moments later when McCarey palmed a powerful Rogic drive into his path just a few yards out. The winger made no mistake.

The Scotland internationalist scored his second of the game with 16 minutes remaining when he danced into the County penalty box and slotted an inch-perfect shot into the bottom left corner from an acute angle.

Odsonne came on for Dembele, Armstrong made way for McGregor and Sinclair took over from Griffiths. Only some fine saves from McCarey prevented Rodgers's dominant charges winning by a greater margin.