LEIGH GRIFFITHS, who has been out since sustaining a hamstring strain in the 4-1 win over Aberdeen, could make his first start in almost a month in next week’s Champions League clash against Manchester City at Parkhead.
Last season’s 40-goal hitman, who is featured on these stunning new displays inside Celtic Park, could also feature at some stage in Saturday’s Premiership encounter against Kilmarnock in Glasgow.
Boss Brendan Rodgers said: “Leigh trained Monday, Tuesday and he should train Thursday, Friday and be back for Saturday. That’s great news because he’s a really important player for us.”
Griffiths, who has netted seven goals already this season, was missed in the 2-0 scramble against Alloa that saw the Hoops go into tonight’s League cup semi-final draw which will be made at Pittodrie after the Aberdeen v St Johnstone tie.
The champions made THIRTEEN clear-cut chances against their First Division opponents and had to rely on two late strikes from James Forrest and Moussa Dembele – with his eighth of the campaign – to get though.
In recent domestic matches Dembele has found it much more difficult breaking down well organised defences at established clubs like Inverness and Alloa, rather than the rich pickings he enjoyed against the plucky league newbies at Celtic Park a few weeks ago.
Eventually Moussa did get to grips with playing against higher quality teams and his late strike last night was exceptional.
Rodgers admitted he wasn’t impressed by the lack of clinical finishing and said: “To score only the two goals was disappointing, you have to be more ruthless than that.
“The name of the game was about being patient. If you move the ball quickly enough you can open up the sides of the field and eventually the opportunities will come. But we needed to be much better.”
