Rodgers: It’s not written in his contract that Celtic 26-year-old must play
By Matt Farr
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists Leigh Griffiths must fight for his place in the starting XI.
Griffiths scored Celtic’s third goal in their 4-1 victory over Partick Thistle on Friday, his first start since November 5, but Rodgers revealed there were no guarantees as to him keeping his place in the side for the next game.
The Scotland striker has struggled to establish himself in Rodgers’ first-team plans this season, having suffered numerous injury problems.
The main reason for his absence though, is the blistering form of Moussa Dembele, who has scored 17 goals from 30 appearances in all competitions as Celtic’s leading man this season.
Despite his lack of starts, Griffiths has now netted 10 goals from 20 appearances this season, but Rodgers stressed that the 26-year-old has to continue to impress him.
He told the Daily Mail: “I’ve a mind to win the game – whether it’s Leigh or whoever I’m not really worried.
“Whatever the team I choose to play, I’ve nothing in my contract that says I have to play Leigh Griffiths.
“I’ll play always the team I think can win the game. I respect what Leigh did last season – but I wasn’t here last season. This is a new team with a new cycle of work, a different way of working, a different manager and all the players understand that and that’s why they respect the team that plays.”
The victory over Partick Thistle was Celtic’s ninth-straight win in the league this season, moving them a step closer to the Scottish Premiership title.
They are unbeaten in the league since Rodgers took over at Celtic Park in the summer, winning 13 of their 14 games. They hold an eight-point gap over second-placed Rangers, but have three games in hand over their Glasgow rivals.
In other Celtic news, Hibernian boss Neil Lennon wants to raid his former club for his player in January.