LEIGH Griffiths will retain responsibility for taking penalty kicks at Celtic despite the miss which cost his side victory against Hamilton on Friday night.

The striker, who had put Ronny Deila’s side in front from the spot in the first half at New Douglas Park, saw his second-half effort brilliantly denied by goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

Martin Canning’s side went on to earn a draw against opponents who had been reduced to 10 men with the red carding of Dedryck Boyata before half-time with a late strike from teenage substitute Eamonn Brophy.

However, Deila has confirmed he will keep faith with Griffiths, who has now scored 25 league goals this season and is edging closer to the record 35-goal mark held jointly by Henrik Larsson and Brian McClair.

“Leigh missing the penalty isn’t a concern for me because I know he’ll continue to score goals,” said Deila as he looked ahead to his side's Premiership meeting with Dundee at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.

“We had three big chances in the second half against Hamilton at 1-0. If we got to 2-0 then it becomes very hard to catch us again. It was disappointing. There’s competition to take the penalties, but Leigh is a good penalty taker. Normally he scores and he scored one on Friday.

“When you have a striker who has scored over 30 goals this season he should be capable of doing that. He’s shown it before. The penalty could have been a bit lower, but it was a good save.

"He’s a confident boy. He’ll be hungry for the next game now.”

Deila, meanwhile, has indicated that Scott Allan has a chance of enjoying an extended run in the team after performing well against Hamilton in what was only his second start for Celtic.

Allan, who has hardly featured since signing from Hibs last summer, played on the left side of midfield and impressed his manager with his ability and work rate.

“I think Scott got better and better as the game went on,” said Deila. “When he gets more space and he’s direct he’s dangerous. He has a good physique, good stamina and is very quick.

“He will need to track back to his penalty box all the time. He’s working hard and that’s something he has added to his game. I didn’t see it so much when he was at Hibs. He’s really fit and he works hard, which everyone needs. No lazy players will play in my team.”

Deila has stressed that Charlie Mulgrew, who came on after Boyata was ordered off, will have to prove his fitness between now and the end of the season before he is offered a new contract.

The Scotland internationalist’s deal expires in the summer and his manager is keen to see that he has overcome the injury problems which have blighted his career in the last two seasons.

“We have to see if he can keep his fitness over time,” he said. “Then we will see and take a decision a bit later on. But it’s up to him as well – not only us. We’re satisfied with him and we just want him to be injury free. He came on and did a good job against Hamilton.”

Deila has defended Celtic’s performance against Hamilton with 10 men – despite his side being unable to win after having a player ordered off for the ninth time on 12 occasions since he arrived in Scotland.

“We get enough practise in the games with 10 men,” he said. “We defended better with 10. We defended with more aggression and we had more people in front of the ball. It’s always tough to play 50 minutes with a man less.”

Meanwhile, Deila has dismissed speculation linking Celtic with a summer move for Copenhagen and Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney.