LEIGH GRIFFITHS does not accept a goalscoring return to the Celtic first team will ensure he will lead the Scotland attack in the World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley on Friday.
Last season’s 40-goal man started the 3-0 Premiership victory over Inverness Caley Thistle yesterday and dovetailed up front with Moussa Dembele.
Griffiths grabbed the second goal after Scott Sinclair had opened the scoring shortly after the interval. Tom Rogic, a 69th-minute substitute for the French Under-21 striker, added a late third.
Asked if he thought he would start at Wembley, Griffiths replied: “Probably not, but that’s up to Mr Strachan and what he wants to do.
“If not, I’ll sit on the bench and try and have an impact if I come on.”
Griffiths, who made his Scotland debut in 2012, has only played nine times for his country and is well aware that boss Gordon Strachan does not see him as a natural fit for his system.
The 26-year-old attacker added: “I’ll try to train well all week and, if he wants me in the team, great.
“I’ve not been playing as much as I’d like, but the only way I can change the gaffer’s mind here and with Scotland is to come in and score as many goals as I can.
“I’m delighted to pull on a Scotland jersey any time I can.”
The goal against Caley Thistle was Griffiths’ first in nine games for club and country.
He hopes it came just in time to remind Strachan of the qualities that saw him net eight goals in his first 10 outings of the season before injury allowed Dembele to claim the single striker role preferred by Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers.
The Irishman switched to a three-man defence against Caley Thistle, allowing him to play twin frontmen against opponents who frustrated his side in the 2-2 draw earlier in the season.
Now Griffiths will be back to vying for one striking role under Strachan for the Scots in London.
He added: “It’s one of those games you want to be involved in and I know we have the players who can cause them problems.”
Thanks to the supporters who sent over their pics from Paradise yesterday. CQN hasn’t got any photos of the match – see yesterday’s match report for more details on this.
Leigh Griffiths is featured somewhere in the photograph used in this article!
Kenny of The Celtic by Stephen Murray is published on 14th November by CQN Books – and you can pre-order your copy now at www.cqnbookstore.com
