BRENDAN HAILS GRIFFITHS

LEIGH GRIFFITHS is the man who can shoot down Astana at Parkhead on Wednesday to lead Celtic into the Champions League play-offs.

That’s the verdict of manager Brendan Rodgers after watching last season’s 40-goal frontman net in the 3-1 defeat against Barcelona in Dublin yesterday.

He said: “Leigh has got good rhythm now. This is our 10th game since pre-season and they have all been tough.

“He is really getting fitter and stronger and we were saying to him to press goalkeepers – that he would get four or five goals a season through that pressure and pressing and he got his rewards for that against Barca.

“Leigh was good on the first press, the ball came across and he was there to finish. He’s a terrific striker, there is no doubt about that.

“From the short time I’ve worked with him, you can see he has a real natural instinct.

“Whatever level he plays at, he will get goals. It was nice for him to get them in the qualifiers and it was a good instinctive finish at the Aviva.”

Rodgers accepts Griffiths, his team-mates and the fans will need to be in top form to complete the job against the dangerous Astana in Glasgow in midweek with the tie stalemated at 1-1, following the striker’s late leveller in Kazakhstan.

The Irishman added: “All the players will be up for it and the supporters will be critical for us, as well. We had great support in the last home game in the competition and we will need them again in the next game to get us over the line.”

Once Upon a Time in the Kingdom of Govania is written by CQN’er MEA CULPA and is beautifully illustrated by the wonderfully talented CARTUJA.

Set in Medieval times it is a story of greed, corruption, cheating and skullduggery.

Some of the main characters may well ring a bell or two. There’s David the Lamb Giver and his financial assistant Baxendale de Porno.

Queen Beth sends Sir Hector of Taxem to Govania not long after David the Lamb Giver’s trusted ally Banquo Scotus in the terrible batte of Krunching Kredit. 

On the story goes as Sir Googly of Ayes is Hailed as the new knight of the realm. 

Sir Charles de Verre, the terrible Ogre, Mash the Scrotum Gripper and many more sort of familiar characters all enter the story of the fantastic fall of Govania and the emergence of Sevconia at Castle Ibroke. 

Once Upon a Time in the Kingdom Of Govania is an Escaped Goat Production for Celtic Quick News and Internet Bampots and is available exclusively from www.cqnbookstore.com with a limited number copies remaining. 

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