Celtic interim manager John Kennedy has highlighted the displays of striker Leigh Griffiths in training ahead of today’s Scottish Cup trip to Ibrox.
It’s likely that Scotland international Griffiths will start on the bench against Rangers this afternoon. He’s only started one of the five games played under Kennedy since he took over from Neil Lennon in February.
His lack of form this season hasn’t been helped by the player shooting himself in the foot. Griffiths turned up to pre-season training unfit, and has failed to kick on from there as he’s struggled for minutes under both Neil Lennon and now Kennedy.
Speculation has kick-started over his long-term future too [Daily Record]. Nobody knows where the Hoops striker will be next season as Celtic ponder over whether to trigger a one-year extension to his contract that would stretch to 2022. However, Kennedy has hailed Griff’s recent work rate as he acknowledged what he’s producing in training.
As quoted by the Glasgow Times, the Hoops interim boss said: “With Leigh the opportunities, because of the quality we’ve got in the squad, it’s not always easy to get everyone game time. Very much for Scotland they would love a Leigh Griffiths firing but for us we have to make sure we make the right decision for each game.
“Leigh’s trained, he’s not missed a session in the last period of time, as long as I can remember. He’s trained every day, he’s working hard, game time has been hard to come by. Just down to decisions in games and games, so he just has to keep working and make himself available and we’ll see what develops over the coming weeks. Then Steve (Clarke) will have a decision to make on that.”
Leigh Griffiths’ long-term future won’t be secured with a few decent training sessions
Griffiths is another one who has sorely let us down this term. So much was expected of him after a rip-roaring end to the 2019/20 season where he effectively shot us to nine-in-a-row. However, just like a host of his team-mates, he’s gone missing in pursuit of the 10.
Many will claim he hasn’t had opportunities on the pitch. But in truth, he’s played just under 850 minutes throughout the campaign [Transfermarkt]. He’s had more than enough opportunities to show what he’s worth this season.
It’s promising, of course, that he appears to be stepping up his game at Lennoxtown. But he needs to be prepared to take any chances that come his way. Especially if he’s called upon from the bench to take on Rangers at some stage today.
Glasgow derby success would be huge for Griff
If Griffiths can prove to be the difference-maker, it puts an entirely different perspective on how fans view him. Success in the Glasgow Derby has shot the likes of Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard to superstardom. Griffiths won’t ever reach those levels, but he can increase demand for him to stay at the club.
As things stand, not many would be complaining if Leigh was allowed to depart. It’s simply to do with not managing to bag 20 goals a season for the club since the 2015/16 season under Ronny Deila. That’s a stat that simply isn’t good enough. It’s not as if he hasn’t been getting opportunities over the last five years either.
So hopefully this training revival he’s appearing to go under means he’s set to make an impact in the final few weeks. We all know how valuable an asset he can be when he’s up for it.
In other news, Kennedy wants Celtic to sign this particular loan player.
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