CELTIC striker Leigh Griffiths was forced to miss tonight’s Scotland tie against Gibraltar after picking up a bizarre injury.
CQN told you yesterday the prolific Hoops frontman had withdrawn from the international squad travelling to Portugal for the final Euro 2016 qualifier.
It has now been revealed Griffiths, who has scored 12 goals for Ronny Deila’s team this season, was injured during the half-time warm-up at Hampden on Thursday.
With the score at 1-1 against Poland, it looked as though there would be a good chance of an appearance from the livewire hitman.
Sunderland’s Steven Fletcher, chosen ahead of Griffiths by Gordon Strachan, was struggling to make an impact throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The Celt was preparing on the touchline when Fletcher scored a spectacular second goal to give the Scots the advantage that was nullified with the last kick of the ball in stoppage time.
Griffiths went back to the bench, but didn’t look comfortable.
Strachan explained: “Leigh injured himself at half time kicking a ball about. Never a dull moment when that man’s about. He’s got a calf injury.”
While the Scots go through 90 meaningless minutes in Faro this evening, Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland will take on Poland in Warsaw.
The prize for the winners is an automatic qualification spot in France next summer. The losers will have to take their chances in the play-offs.
World champions Germany, who beat Scotland home and away, but lost games against the Poles and the Irish, have already booked their spot in the Finals.
