Leigh Griffiths scored twice as a Celtic XI hammered Stenhousemuir 6-0 in a friendly at Lennoxtown tonight. Liam Burt with a hat-trick and Cameron Harper scored the other goals.
Griffiths hasn’t played any sort of football since getting a 15 minute run out in the 3-1 win over Hearts at the end of August with a thigh strain the main cause for being sidelined.
After Celtic’s last match, the 2-0 win over Motherwell on November 10, Neil Lennon said that he hoped to have the former Hibs striker available in a fortnight.
With players scattered across Europe over the last week Griffiths could be in line for a place in the squad to face Livingston on Saturday ahead of the Europa League clash against Rennes next Thursday.
Griffiths played the full 90 minutes and was joined in the starting XI by Jonathan Afolabi who played for the first half as he recovered from a hamstring injury.
The main focus however will be on the fitness and recovery of Griffiths who scored twice in the first 15 minutes with Lennon hoping that he has competition for Odsonne Edouard in the striking department.
Here’s tonight’s team ?
Starting XI- Mullen: Savoury, Hendry, Church, Paterson, McKay, Robertson, Burt, Harper, Afolabi, Griffiths
Subs: Smith, Murray, Mazis, McRobb, McBride,
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) November 19, 2019
11′ – GOAL! McKay does well to pick out Griffiths inside the box. A touch to control and then the striker slips the ball into the bottom corner.
1?? – 0??
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) November 19, 2019
14′ – MAKE IT A DOUBLE! Griffths with a quick brace. Burt assists with an excellent through ball and Griffths tucks it beyond the keeper.
2?? – 0??
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) November 19, 2019
19′ – GOAL! Burt drills in a fantastic finish from the edge of the box.
3?? – 0??
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) November 19, 2019
21′ – GOAL! Brilliant Burt gets his brace!
4?? – 0??
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) November 19, 2019
55′ – GOAL! Hat-trick for Burt! Church with the cutback and Burt tucks it beyond the keeper with a lovely first time shot.
5?? – 0??
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) November 19, 2019
64′ – GOAL! A well-deserved goal for Harper. He finishes well from close range after some good dribbling inside the box.
6?? – 0??
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) November 19, 2019