Leigh Griffiths hit the goal trail with a hat-trick as a Celtic XI beat St Gallen u-21’s 9-1 in an 80 minute match this morning.
The striker scored against Pinkafeld and Wiener and took just 11 minutes to find the net this morning with what has been described as a half volley from 40 yards.
By then Celtic were already 2-0 in front with Ewan Henderson and Scott Sinclair getting the hoops off to a flying start, by the 16th minute Celtic were 5-0 in front with Lewis Morgan and Sinclair adding to the scoresheet.
Right on half time (40 minutes) St Gallen pulled a goal back but before the 50th minute Griffiths added two more demonstrating that he has lost none of his sharpness despite seven months out of action.
Twelve minutes after replacing Ryan Christie Karamoko Dembele scored his first top team goal with Sinclair netting Celtic’s eighth with five minutes left to play.
A minute later Griffiths scored his fourth after good build up play from Henderson as he staked his claim for a place in next week’s Champions League qualifier away to FK Sarajevo.
Tonight’s first team match kicks off at 6.30 CPT.
CELTIC: Gordon (Doohan 41); Morrison, Hendry (Oko Flex 60), Welsh, Gutman; Bitton, Henderson; Morgan, Christie (Dembele), Sinclair; Griffiths
