The biggest talking point of Neil Lennon’s press conference yesterday was the fact that Christopher Jullien didn’t travel with the squad to Riga.
The Big Frenchman is nursing a back knock. Yet whilst that’s a pity, there has been some big news with regards to the squad for Riga that’s come out this week.
UEFA published the official Celtic squad list on their website a couple of days ago, and whilst Jullien was initially part of it, Leigh Griffiths also made the cut for the A list.
That’s the same Leigh Griffiths who hasn’t managed a single outing for the club this season. The same Leigh Griffiths who has managed to score 115 goals for Celtic in 234 appearances (Transfermarkt).
However, Griffiths’ imminent return isn’t just a boost because of his previous record. It’s a boost because Lennon will finally then have all four of his top strikers available for the first time this season.
Not once this term has Lennon been able to boast having Odsonne Edouard, Griffiths, Albian Ajeti, and Patryk Klimala all fit and available at the same time.
That of course doesn’t necessarily mean that Griffiths will be available for the game tonight. Indeed, Lennon very carefully mentioned that all of the players who were fit at the weekend will be ready for tonight. Griffiths, of course, wasn’t in the squad to face Livingston on Saturday.
Griffiths makes the A list
But the fact that he was put into the A list for the Riga tie shows that Lennon wanted him in for the first-team prep work. Which means he’s very clearly closing in on a return to match fitness.
Barring any unfortunate injuries over the next week or two, the Hoops will finally be able to call on any of their four first-team strikers.
That’s mammoth for Celtic. Especially when you take into consideration how many games we’ll be playing between now and the end of 2020. Should we progress to the group stages of the Europa League as well as the final of the delayed 2020 Scottish Cup, Celtic could face as many as 22 games over the next three months or so.
It’s an incredible schedule and not one to be taken lightly. So words can’t describe how important it is that Celtic have their full complement of strikers available.
Hopefully, there are no further setbacks in the coming weeks. Squad depth is going to be a massive factor in any success we have this season.
In other news, Celtic defender Greg Taylor has dimissed ridiculous comparisons to an ex star.
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