Moussa Dembele has revealed that he is never 100% fit.
The Celtic striker missed the first two months of the season after injuring a hamstring in the opening match against Linfield.
A brutal attack from Cedric Kipre of Motherwell could easily have resulted in a broken ankle but ten days later he was facing Anderlecht in the Champions League.
Dembele was used as a substitute in Celtic’s 2-2 draw at Hibs on Sunday but will be required over the next fortnight as the hoops step up their title defence with matches against Hearts, Aberdeen and Sevco.
Explaining his fitness to The Sun he said: “It’s not really been frustrating. Injuries are part of football. Don’t be a footballer if you don’t want to be injured.
“You do not want to be injured, but sometimes you are. You have got to work hard to make sure you come back fit and strong and that is what I have done. So there is no frustration for me.
“It is difficult to watch the games from the stand, of course. You imagine yourself on the pitch and what you would be doing if you were but you are never 100 per cent fit. Ask any player, you might be in good shape, but you are never 100 per cent fit.
“I feel good and I know I can play two or three games in a row, and that is good.
“Before the game you are never 100 per cent — any player will tell you that. Maybe you don’t feel that sharp or you have a knock, but you have to play and get through it.”
Dembele’s stop-start season has allowed Odsonne Edouard to stake his claim for a place in the Celtic side with the teenager having a similar pedigree to the former Fulham man.
Edouard served notice of his intentions with a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Motherwell ad retained his place for the SPFL trip to Hibs leaving Dembele and Leigh Griffiths on the bench.