Former Celtic boss Davie Hay has been looking ahead to the Hoops’ game against Partick Thistle on Saturday evening.
Hay has made a bold prediction about the starting line-up Neil Lennon will choose for the Scottish Cup tie. He believes that Leigh Griffiths will start the game for the Hoops, with star striker Odsonne Edouard on the bench.
“My gut feeling”
“My gut feeling is that Griffiths will start with Odsonne Edouard on the bench to be called on in an emergency” Hay said, writing in his column in the Evening Times.
“If Neil Lennon can extend Edouard’s winter break until Wednesday at least, then I think he would love to do that, but he should still be there in reserve should something go wrong in the game at Firhill.”
If there is a game which you would imagine Griffiths would have a chance of starting, it is against Partick. The Hoops opponents are struggling at the wrong end of the Championship table. Should Griffiths be on form, then he could score a few goals.
Striker has not been in good form recently
Griffiths has not been on form recently for the Hoops though. Indeed, his last goal for Celtic was in August, in the 5-2 win over Motherwell. Still, it is understandable that Neil Lennon may want to give Odsonne Edouard a bit of an extended break if possible.
With the Hoops facing a tough league game on the plastic pitch of Kilmarnock on Wednesday, then the Frenchman might well be kept on the bench for most of the game.
Indeed, if the Hoops are comfortably ahead in the match, maybe new Bhoy Patryk Klimala will get a run-out, and Edouard won’t get on at all.
It would be a gamble to start Griffiths in the game. Only for the reason that he hasn’t been in the best of form. But a few goals against Partick would be a timely reminder to Neil Lennon of his talents as a striker.
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