Brendan Rodgers has told Leigh Griffiths that Alex McLeish got it right to pick Steven Naismith ahead of the Celtic striker for Scotland’s Nations Legue clash with Albania.
Over the last 18 months Griffiths has looked like the only striker capable of scoring for Scotland but after being given the thankless task of playing as the sole striker against Belgium he watched from the bench as Naismith and Jonny Russell started against Albania.
Rodgers has issued a couple of public warnings to the former Wolves striker about his dedication to his career and has been left frustrated by the muscle injuries that has restricted his availability.
Griffiths was far from happy about being left out of the match against Albania but didn’t find any sympathy from his club manager.
“I was at the Albania game and Steven Naismith was excellent,” Rodgers told The Sun. “He worked his socks off and got Scotland two goals — you can’t complain about that.
“I think what Leigh Griffiths has done, and what he’s shown, is he has the ability to score goals.
“What he has to keep doing is keep working and keep fighting, so those opportunities come. To make sure he’s fit and ready to take them.”
Griffiths was on the bench for Celtic’s 0-0 draw at St Mirren on Friday and is competing with Odsonne Edouard for a place in tonight’s Europa League match against Rosenborg.
