Leigh Griffiths has no fitness worries for Wednesday’s Champions League Play Off against Astana.
The striker scored twice against Hearts and Kilmarnock but picked up a knock against Lee McCulloch’s side and started the game against Partick Thistle on the bench.
Pre-match Brendan Rodgers revealed that Griffiths’ was suffering from a calf strain which set off alarm bells among fans anxious for the Astana match.
With Moussa Dembele out with a hamstring injury until next month Celtic’s striking options currently rest entirely on Griffiths with the former Hibs man fit and ready for Wednesday night.
“I’ve said all along that I want to earn that jersey,” Griffiths told the Evening Times. “It is a bit frustrating because I came back really fit after the break, I did loads of work over the summer and I have worked with the physios so it was annoying but hopefully it is just a blip.
“It will be a hard game. We know that from last year. They gave us a really tough test and I think it will be the same again but it is up to us to prove that we belong in the Champions League. We’re under no illusions. It will hard but we feel confident.”
With the return leg against Astana coming six days after the first match and involving a five hour flight Griffiths will almost certainly be excused duty against Kilmarnock on Saturday.
After the win over Thistle Brendan Rodgers revealed that he has been looking at bringing in a new striker with 11pm Tuesday the deadline to register a wild card signing to face Astana.
