John Kennedy was full of praise for Leigh Griffiths after the striker came off the bench to salvage a last gasp draw for Celtic away to Aberdeen.
The striker replaced Odsonne Edouard on the hour mark, saw little of the ball but in the third minute of stoppage time created space for himself to head a Moi Elyounoussi cross low into the net from six yards out.
It was the last chance for Griffiths to impress before Celtic make a decision on whether or not to take up the 12 month option on his contract with a decision to be made by April 30. If the club fail to do that he’ll be a free agent with Aberdeen and Hibs at the front of the queue for his signature.
Who’ll make that decision for Celtic remains a mystery. With an Interim manager and handover at CEO level someone will have to make the big decision but with eight days to go it looks odds against the contract being extended.
That is the biggest issue for Celtic fans but last night John Kennedy was questioned about the 30-year-old’s prospects of making the Scotland squad for the European Championships.
Kennedy told the Daily Record:
That goal is what Leigh is all about – getting half a yard in the penalty box and finishing. Leigh is fit. He trains every day. He hasn’t had many starts but he’s fit.
That will be Steve’s decision and he has added extra strikers like Che Adams. So Steve does have a decision to make but all Leigh can do is make himself available. Leigh is up there with Scotland’s best goalscorers.
He had the issue when we came back for pre-season and his fitness wasn’t what it should have been. That took a bit of time for him to get going but I have had no issues with Leigh in terms of how he works.
We don’t always play with two strikers, so that doesn’t always help him but Leigh is what he is. He is a great individual for us and when we need a goal, he gets you it.
We want him fit and well, and in contention to start games, and that is where he is. The Euros does help us in terms of personal motivation – but there is always something to play for at Celtic.
Should Leigh Griffiths get another 12 month Celtic contract?
Yes, he is a guarantee of goals
No, time up, too many chances
Celtic could offer Griffiths a new contract on reduced terms after April 30, last night’s header was his sixth goal in the SPFL from seven starts with 13 appearances as a substitute.
