BBC Sportsound pundit James McFadden believes that Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths would’ve scored a hat-trick against KR Reykjavik last night.
Griffiths missed the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round clash due to a calf injury confirmed by Neil Lennon in his pre-match press conference (Celtic TV).
Instead, Odsonne Edouard got on the scoresheet whilst Albian Ajeti and Patryk Klimala both got 2o+ minutes against the Icelandic champions.
However, despite the 6-0 success, McFadden believes Griffiths would’ve shined had he featured.
Speaking on the BBC Scottish football podcast, ex-Motherwell man McFadden said: “I don’t think I could offer him any advice that he hasn’t been offered before. Leigh Griffiths has got to realise that he has a big chance at Celtic.
“You look at Ajeti coming in with not even a week’s training (under his belt). Hasn’t played for a year and he gets minutes. Griffiths must be looking and thinking ‘that should be me’.
“In a game like this tonight – he would’ve scored a hat-trick tonight if he was fit. He’s got so much to his game. I hope he gets back (to full fitness).”
A motivation tool for Griffiths
With the spotlight on Edouard and new-man Ajeti, you can understand why much of the media focus hasn’t been on the injured Griffiths in recent days.
However, he should be looking at the likes of Ajeti and Klimala getting game-time last night and using it as a motivational tool.
Griffiths, whether you believe he is or not, will fancy himself as a better goalscorer than both of Celtic’s attacking subs last night. He has a proven track record in Scotland that is matched only by Edouard.
It’s also worth noting how sharp Griffiths looked against Hibernian in pre-season when he finally got himself up to speed. He set-up Klimala to score and ran the Easter Road side’s defence ragged. If he can get himself on the pitch, he can quickly change the narrative surrounding him.
It’s so easy to look at Griffiths just now and think his time is up. But he’s been there before. Written off and discarded before coming back to make his critics eat their words.
Watching the opportunities handed to Ajeti and Klimala should make him even more motivated to get himself back into that position.
Would he have scored a hat-trick last night? That’s perhaps jumping the gun, but it would’ve taken a brave fan to bet against him not being on the scoresheet.
In other news, Celtic managed to break an 18-year old club record last night.
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