Leigh Griffiths is hoping that he has done enough to earn a starting place in Ronny Deila’s League Cup semi-final side.
The former Hibs striker has started Celtic’s last four matches and appears to have moved ahead of John Guidetti in the pecking order.
Guidetti returned to favour last week at Ross County but failed to find the net with Griffiths moved back into an attacking midfield role.
Deila will announce his side on Sunday morning with the choice of striker the most eagerly anticipated in the team.
“I’d spoken to the manager earlier in the season and he said that he was happy with the way that I was progressing,” Griffiths told Celtic TV. “I’ve been able to keep my place recently and I’m hoping to keep it for the semi-final.
“I’ve been working hard in training and in the gym, the manager told me that I’d get my chance sooner rather than later. There was talk about me going out on loan but I never wanted to leave, I wanted to prove myself here.
“Sunday is a massive game, my first Glasgow derby, it’s at the National Stadium and they’ll be up for it as much as we will.
“I spoke to Broony who has played in both derby matches, he said that the Edinburgh derby is big but the Glasgow derby is a lot bigger and I’m looking forward to sampling it. We’ll go into the game focused and if we do that we’re sure to go into the final.”
Griffiths joined Celtic exactly a year ago from Wolves and picked up a league winners medal for his efforts.
Last season’s cup campaigns were something of a damp squib with the former Hibs man determined to make sure that Sunday isn’t his last visit to Hampden
“We were knocked out of this competition by the time I arrived last season,” he recalled. “My debut was in the game where Aberdeen knocked us out of the Scottish Cup. This season we’re still in all three competitions and looking to go all the way.
“When the new manager came in he said that he wanted to win every domestic cup plus the league, we’re looking good just now but we’re taking one game at a time and that starts with Rangers on Sunday.”
