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Provan warns McLeish over ‘kick in the stones’ to Celtic favourite

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Image for Provan warns McLeish over ‘kick in the stones’ to Celtic favourite

Davie Provan believes that Leigh Griffiths is owed an apology from Alex McLeish.

The Celtic striker had his place in the squad questioned by the Scotland boss ahead of the international double header and was given the thankless task of playing on his own against Belgium.

Three days later a player who wasn’t in the original squad and someone playing in the United States were chosen to start against Albania with Griffiths left kicking his heels on the bench.

Griffiths has had to battle for every appearance at club level but has no complaints when the competition is provided by two of the rising stars of the French game- playing understudy to Steven Naismith and Jonny Russell is an entirely different matter.

Writing in The Sun Provan stated: “Rarely has a Scotland teamsheet caused so much bemusement. Just as well McLeish got the job done, because he’d have had the lynch mob on his case if he’d lost.

“Scotland fans remain unconvinced by McLeish’s second coming. They reckon his best days are behind him, that he was a convenient appointment for a cash-strapped SFA.

“It’s unlikely Griffiths would have disagreed with that view when discovering he was dropped. If he had a stinker against Belgium fair enough, but he stuck to it before coming off injured.

“If I were Griff, I’d want an explanation from the Scotland boss.

“McLeish played him up on his own against Belgium where he chased lost causes, then bombed him when going with a front two against Albania. That’s a right kick in the stones.”

The win against Albania ended a run of three straight defeats without scoring a goal for the Scotland international side.

With 17,000 fans paying their way into Hampden it seems that Provan and Griffiths aren’t the only people doubtful over the merits of McLeish who is believed to be facing a £2m tax bill from his Ibrox days.

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