Frank McAvennie believes that Leigh Griffiths should lead the line for Celtic in Sunday’s Scottish Cup Final against Hearts.
The life-long Hibs fan likes few things more than putting the ball in the net against the Jambos but with after starting just one match this season- and being substituted at half time- it seems a long shot that Griffiths will start at Hampden.
After suffering a knee injury against Hibs on November 21 Griffiths was given half an hour from the bench in the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone but wasn’t used in the victories over Lille or Kilmarnock.
Odsonne Edouard and Patryk Klimala have been preferred as questions and doubts persist over the fitness of the former Hibs and Wolves striker.
Most attention in the build up to Sunday’s match will be focussed on midfield and the goalkeeping position but as a former Scottish Cup match-winner McAvennie still believes in the former powers of Griffiths.
He told the Glasgow Times:
He (Lennon) has to do something because he (Edouard) is not linking with the midfielders. All of a sudden he has two players who are willing to get close to him. Maybe he tries too hard and he just needs to touch it off.
We all know that Edouard is a wonderful talent, but some strikers need a bit of confidence. I just don’t get how he can go away and do so well for the French under-21 side and then come back and be in Celtic’s reserves.
I’d play Griffiths. With Griffiths, Lenny keeps saying that he needs to get fit. If that’s the case then someone has to get him fit and surely that’s the manager’s job or, if it’s not him, then the coaches. But I think he’s the best finisher at the club. Edouard’s a better player but Griffiths has the edge when it comes to taking chances. I’d then put Patryk Klimala ahead of Albian Ajeti.
Griffiths has scored three times this season coming off the bench- against St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Sparta Prague.