LEIGH GRIFFITHS aims to score 33 goals next season in a shorter time than it takes Kris Commons to score 9, thus beating his teammate to the magical 100 Celtic goals mark. The last player to reach this milestone was Welsh internationals John Hartson and Griffiths can’t wait to join a very special club alongside Hartson and legends like Jimmy McGrory, Henrik Larsson and Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox.
Griffiths turned up at Celtic Park on the Monday afternoon that Brendan Rodgers arrived in Glasgow, filling stands when there wasn’t even a game on, selling out season tickets and transforming the Glasgow weather to be more like summer in Ibiza. But the Irishman is keeping his best tricks for when the action begins next month – and Griffiths can’t wait to play his part in the Rodgers Revolution.
Speaking to the club’s website, which is where you will see the clubs Resolution 12 statement at some point this week, Scotland’s Player of the Year said: “Kris is closer to 100 than me but if I can keep having a consistent run in the team like I did last season then I’m confident of getting there. I need 33 more goals to get to the 100-mark, so hopefully next season I can do that.
“Obviously to join the 100 club would make me among an elite band of players and hopefully I can start making a name for myself.
“It’s always nice to have a good relationship with the fans as you don’t want to have them on your back and the only way I can keep that relationship going is by performing on the park and scoring goals,” continued the Scotland internationalist.
“It’s nice that I have managed to change people’s minds. I had a few ups and downs but last season there were a lot of ups and hopefully that will continue.”
From the 40 goals he scored last season Griffiths also considered which one tops his own list.
“My favourite goal at Celtic Park was the one against Partick Thistle in January when I scored in the 90th minute,” explained Griffiths. “It wasn’t the prettiest of goals but it’s my highlight because of its importance.
“It was in injury time and the fans were beginning to leave the stadium. I had just got back from injury and I said to Ronny to put me on the bench and give me the last half-hour so that I was ready. It took me 29 minutes to come up with the goods but the importance of the victory was huge.”
While enjoying a well earned break over the short summer holiday for the players, who will be back at Lennoxtown in a few weeks time, Leigh is nevertheless looking forward to watching a few of the forthcoming matches in the Euros.
“I will watch a few of the games and maybe see how England get on,” he said. “We have them in the qualifying campaign coming up so it will be interesting to see how they get on but I think Germany will win it.”
