Davie Provan believes that Leigh Griffiths is priceless to Celtic.
The birthday bhoy was on target at St Johnstone yesterday and is joint top scorer in the Champions League qualifiers with five goals to his name.
Two of them came in the 5-2 win over Hapoel Beer Sheva on Wednesday night that takes Celtic to the brink of the group phase of the Champions League.
When Neil Lennon agreed a £1.1m transfer fee with Wolves in January 2014 there was little fanfare, excitement or expectation as the former Livingston and Dundee striker was quietly unveiled.
Ronny Deila and now Brendan Rodgers are getting the real benefits of Lennon’s signing with Provan in no doubt about the value of the 26-year-old to Celtic.
“But if Deila’s legacy was poor, Brendan has inherited at least one gold nugget — Leigh Griffiths,” the former Celtic striker explained in his column with The Sun. “If Griff isn’t the highest-paid player in that dressing room he needs a new agent.
“The wee guy’s been inspirational. In danger of throwing away his career through stupidity not so long ago, he’s emerged as Celtic’s most important player. My good buddy Scott Brown would disagree, but Griffiths is Rodgers’ biggest talent.
“When Celtic are up against it, it’s Griff who’s likely to find a goal from nowhere. He’s got a bit to go to join the ranks of great Celtic strikers, but there’s nothing stopping him.
“His free-kick against the Israelis was a thing of beauty from a player yet to reach his peak. In a previous life the striker might have spat the dummy when moved wide to accommodate Dembele. Instead, he’s buckled down and proved himself the club’s best centre forward.
Provan added: “Providing the Hoops give it their full attention they should be in the hat when the groups are drawn in Monte Carlo later this week.
“That would vindicate Rodgers’ decision to work in Scotland. You can bet he had reservations about shunning the glitz of England’s Premier League. Regular glamour nights in Europe would put any doubts to bed.”
