Leigh Griffiths frustrating week with Scotland will only enhance his performance for Celtic in the coming weeks.
The on-form Celtic striker spent most of his time on the bench while Scotland capitulated in Georgia and were outclassed by a German team who barely got into 3rd gear. He wasn’t fancied ahead of Steven Fletcher who has came in for heavy criticism during both games. His form for his club not enough to be a starter in Gordon Strachan’s eyes while Fletcher continues abysmal non-scoring run for his country and on the periphery of his own team down south.
While this could be looked on as a negative by Scotland fans I believe it will only be a positive for the Celtic faithful. The attitude change in Leigh has been fantastic and while he may have pouted at such circumstances a year or so ago he will now use this frustration as fuel as he leads the Celtic line.
I expect him to come out the blocks on Saturday in Aberdeen all guns blazing and would not be surprised if he was on the end of an early chance.
He might not be in favour at national level but he is without a doubt Celtic’s first choice striker and not just because there are few options but because he has proven himself.
His record speaks for itself –
65 games, 34 goals, 14 assists. Scoring or assisting 1 goal every 104 minutes played.
In his overall club career: 289 games, 233 starts, 145 goals, 65 assists. Scoring or assisting 1 goal every 98 minutes played.
(Thanks to @OptaCeltic for those stats)
This is a player going places under Celtic and Ronny Deila, it wont be long before he convinces Gordon Strachan that Steven Fletcher should be the one sneaking tea cakes on the bench.
