WHAT does Leigh Griffiths want for his birthday? The Celtic number 9 turns 28 today, many happy returns Leigh, and what he wants more tan anything else is to bag his 100th goal for Celtic on Thursday night in Lithuania.
He has been stuck on 98 goals for ages – with injuries and some bad luck when he has had match time stopping him getting to the magical century of Celtic goals.
He almost scored in Athens, shaving the post from a Callum McGregor cross. He did reach 99 at Firhill when he powered a Scotty Sinclair cross past a few Thistle players to find the net. It wasn’t the best goal he has scored for the Hoops but he’s happy to take it and go for 100 in Lithuania on Thursday night in the Europa League.
“I will take them all, regardless of it’s a 30-yard screamer or a one-yard tap-in. Obviously, I got the goal early and I was thinking, one more chance and I’ll try and put it away.
“It wasn’t to be, but I’ll look forward to Thursday and, if I get a chance, I’ll try and stick it away and get to 100.”
Griffiths was replaced by Moussa Dembele on Saturday with around half an hour remaining and with many supporters hoping that Brendan Rodgers would opt to two up top, as that looked like it was potent in the latter stages in the Olympic Stadium.
“Moussa’s just back from injury and I think the gaffer was just easing him back in,” Griffiths explained.
“It was great to see him back out there and fully fit. Obviously, as a striker you want to be selfish, but you want your best players available and it’s great to have him back.”
The 28 year old Celt, also had a word about the challenge that appears to be emerging from Govania this season.
“We need to be on our toes,” Griffiths said.
“They’ve started well, it’s a long season and we’ll embrace the challenge. We’ve got a great squad here and we look forward to it.”
Griffiths also spoke about the dramas that have occurred at the club over the past few weeks, with the John McGinn saga coming to an unhappy conclusion for Celtic and the Dedryck Boyata controversy involving his agent and the Belgian refusing to play in Athens when the club regarded him as being fit.
“We as players just need to focus on the job at hand,” Griffiths said.
“Whatever happens with signing players and such is up to the manager and those above us. We just need to keep focusing on winning football matches.
“People are always going to want big marquee signings, but that’s up to the manager and the people above him.”
Meanwhile things remains quiet on the new contract that Griffiths previously stated was 85% agreed. Hopefully that will get sorted sooner rather than later.
