LEIGH Griffiths scored his fifth goal in a week to make a serious claim on a starting spot against Qarabag FK on Wednesday night.
Ronny Deila, the Celtic manager, has a decision to make about whether he sticks with Nadir Ciftci, who began both matches against FC Stjarnan, or goes with the Scotland international who scored a hat-trick against Eibar last Saturday and got another in Iceland. He is in sparkling form and for 45 minutes was excellent in this friendly against Rennes.
“Leigh is always flying,” said Celtic captain Scott Brown. “It doesn’t matter if it’s two yards or 20 yards, he will score goals.”
Deila hinted that he could go with Griffiths against the champions of Azerbaijan.
“Leigh has a great attitude whether he starts or comes on from the bench,” the manager said. “He always gives 100 per cent. I am happy with the way he is performing and developing. He is scoring in every game he plays so of course he has a chance for Wednesday. It is about the opponent and how we think the game will go. Leigh has shown that he is in good shape.”
Griffiths had three players around him on 12 minutes when he got the ball on to his left foot inside the box and still he found a gap to place his shot into the bottom corner.
It was 2-0 after 21 minutes. A quick free-kick in midfield put Rennes on the back-foot and Stuart Armstrong’s pass through the defence was as precise as he could have hoped for, with Gary Mackay-Steven finishing off the move with a lovely finish.
Rennes tried to get back into it when Steven Moreira forced Craig Gordon into a smart save at his near post, but in truth Celtic were coasting while playing some decent stuff at the same time. Not so good for the Parkhead side was the sight of Charlie Mulgrew gingerly walking off the pitch on 35 minutes after being caught by a Rennes player in a tackle.
“I think it is a ligament in his knee, but not a big thing. I’m hopeful he can play on Wednesday,” said Deila.
Emilio Izaguirre, who replaced Mulgrew, and Efe Ambrose were the only survivors of the team which left the pitch at half time. Rarely when so many changes are made in a friendly does it do much for the game. This was no exception.
There was a bit of excitement on the hour when Ciftci caught Pedro Mendes when going for a high ball, the Rennes player rolled about as if about to die, and the Celtic striker’s attempts to apologise angered the opposition into a bit of pushing and shoving. Ciftci, commendably, kept his cool.
Celtic goalkeeper Leo Fasan at least got a chance to impress on 73 minutes when he pulled off a quite superb save, diving fully to his left to keep out a header from Ola Toivonen.
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