RONNY Deila last night predicted Leigh Griffiths can become an all-time Celtic great after the striker netted his 50th goal for the Parkhead club in a 4-1 win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

The Scotland internationalist became the Celtic player to reach the half century mark in the fewest starts in the modern era when he scored in the 21st minute of the Ladbrokes Premiership match.

Deila, whose side forged six points clear of their nearest rivals Aberdeen in the top flight table with the comfortable win, feels the 25-year-old can build on his remarkable goal tally in the next five years.

“Leigh has done very, very well to get to 50 goals,” he said. “I’m just delighted the way he’s playing for us. It’s not just his goalscoring it’s his hard work that’s so impressive.

“Since the first time I saw him there’s been a big, big improvement. His physical shape has got better and better and he has so much confidence now. He suits out style of play because he wants to run and he wants to chase. He starts our pressure from the front.

“Can he become Celtic legend? Well, he’s just signed a five-year deal so he has time. If he keeps on scoring like this he has a good chance to become a club legend.

“When you think of big names like Henrik Larsson, John Hartson and Charlie Nicholas – and how Leigh has scored 50 goals quicker than them – then it shows he has a big opportunity now to put down a big mark in Celtic’s history.”

Griffiths was often left out of the Celtic side after Deila took over as manager back in 2014 and the Norwegian praised the centre forward for how he has embraced his ideas on got his career back on track.

“He is a very good ambassador for hard work,” he said. “It is a message to everybody in life if you want to change then you can make sacrifices and become the player you want to be. He has done it. Now he is kicking on and scoring because every day he prepares for matches. He has done a very big job.”

Celtic edged further ahead of second-placed Aberdeen, who take on Ross County at the Global Energy Arena tomorrow, but Deila dismissed suggestions the Pittodrie club would be unable to catch them.

“Hopefully, but I don’t think so,” he said. “We need to win a lot more games. That is 21 games now. There is 17 more games. It is way too early to talk about these things. But we are in a good position and every time we win we put the other teams under pressure. We just have to keep on performing.”

Deila refused to comment on speculation linking him with a move for Manchester City winger Patrick Roberts and stated that he was unaware where Anthony Stokes, who has been linked moves to Hibs, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and United, will go on loan.

The Norwegian is hopeful that Kieran Tierney, the teenage left back who was substituted late on after injuring his shoulder, is not too seriously hurt. “It was a little bit out of position,” he said. “Hopefully it is nothing big, but he had a lot of pain.”

Dundee United remain 11 points adrift of Kilmarnock at the bottom of the Premiership after this heavy defeat - but their manager Mixu Paatelainen is adamant they can turn their season around and remain in the top flight.

“Kilmarnock next weekend is a massive game for us,” he said. “We have more than enough; all the tools to beat Kilmarnock and go after Partick Thistle after that. That’s our aim and that’s what we are here for.”