HOOPS BOSS’ HOPE FOR GRIFFITHS

BRENDAN RODGERS is hopeful Leigh Griffiths will lead the Celtic attack against Rosenborg in Trondheim on Wednesday when the Hoops face a tough second leg.

The Irishman was without the suspended striker and also the injured Moussa Dembele in the scoreless first game in the Champions League qualifier at Parkhead last night.

Rodgers revealed the French striker could be out until September with his troublesome hamstring injury and Griffiths will be expected to accept a key role in the weeks ahead.

The treble-winners were forced to play against the Norwegians without a recognised centre-forward with midfielder Tom Rogic performing in a temporary front role.

Griffiths will be available for the return game at the Lerkendal Stadion, but only if he recovers from injury.

Asked about the chances of having the Scottish international back for the return, Rodgers replied: “Hopeful. We will see where he is at the weekend.

“Even if he was available for this game, he has a calf strain and couldn’t have played.

“We we will see how he is over the next few days leading into next week.”Of course, it is a concern if you haven’t got strikers. But I can’t worry about it so much. I want to focus on finding a way to get a result, so I will look at it going forward.”I thought Tom did very well. Of course, he wasn’t quite playing as a striker, we played him just off in a withdrawn role.

“I thought at times our general play was very good, it was just that bit round the edge of the box where, when you have natural strikers, they manipulate the ball to get a shot in and they are a reference to the team to bounce the ball off.

“So, maybe we missed that link in the final sector.”