RONNY DEILA has assured Leigh Griffiths he still has a future at Celtic but must improve his fitness.

Griffiths has started only three games under the Norwegian and was linked with a possible loan move to his former club Hibs after slipping out of favour.

Deila insisted last night that the striker still has a part to play, but the manager said every member of his squad had to know how to look after themselves between games.

"Leigh knows how he stands and what the situation is," Deila said. "We have a big and very good squad and need competition. I've always said people have to improve all the time to get the chances and that's the same for Leigh as for the others.

"We talk all the time. He's a nice boy and we have good communication. Leigh looks like he wants to do it; he really wants to succeed at Celtic. He's at a very big club, he knows it and this is his chance. Everyone knows what they have to do to develop and that's for Leigh also.

"Playing matches is important, but being a 24-hour athlete is important as well. What you do in matches is important, but so is being very aware of what you do every day in training and away from the pitch. We have a big focus on that.

"There have been no problems with Leigh off the pitch, that's not why I say this, it's for everyone. But he needs to get fitter. Of course that is about playing, but it also comes from hard work in the gym and off the pitch. It's a culture and it takes time to change culture. We have to work every day to get the knowledge into the players."

Deila faces a potential headache after Aleksandar Tonev was issued with a notice of complaint by the Scottish Football Association over accusations he racially abused the Aberdeen defender Shay Logan during the sides' match in Glasgow last Saturday, an allegation the Bulgarian denied.

The winger was charged with excessive misconduct and has until Friday to respond to the complaint. If he does not do so a principal hearing will be held on October 9.

The charge is that Tonev broke disciplinary rule 202 by using "offensive, insulting and abusive language of a racist nature". During the game Logan was seeing speaking to his captain, Mark Reynolds, referee Bobby Madden and then his manager, Derek McInnes, at the touchline.

Aberdeen lodged a formal complaint with the SFA on Monday while Celtic manager Ronny Deila defended Tonev earlier this week. If found guilty by a judicial panel Tonev would face a suspension of at least four games, rising to as many as 16.

Celtic return to league duty when they welcome Motherwell to Parkhead tomorrow afternoon. Deila was naturally buoyed by Thursday night's 2-2 draw away to Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League, a game in which the lead was taken via a wonderful opening goal from the left winger Wakaso Mubarak.

The Ghana international, on loan from Rubin Kazan, struck a low, bending shot past the Salzburg goalkeeper to score on his debut.

"He gives us another weapon in the wide midfield positions," Deila said. "He can eliminate players, go past them, and he is good on the ball. That's what I wanted to see and I'm happy for him.

"His goal showed fantastic technique and I hope he does more of that. It was a difficult shot to take on. I want wingers who can work the pitch both ways, defensively and offensively, and he can do that.

"I hadn't seen him play live before he came here. I have people I trust and a scouting department here I'm working with every day. They know what I'm after. Wakaso has played at good clubs, such as Espanyol, at a high level.

"I have contacts in Spain and they were saying very positive things about him. I can now see why. It looks like he could become a fans' favourite. Our fans like quick players; players who can go past people and who have energy. Wakaso had that in his game on Thursday night.

"That's the kind of team we want to be. We want to be similar to Red Bull Salzburg. That's our goal. Maybe not so wide, but very aggressive and hungry to win the ball. Wakaso showed that level.

"He has a lot of confidence. I've worked a lot with African players and they need to be loved, like everyone else. I said from the start that the players need to feel safe here and trusted. That's important. They have to have fun. That's important to help people develop. He's showing the level he can play at and we have to go on from here."

A fee would be required to being Wakaso to Scotland permanently. "We'll see if it's affordable but there is always a negotiation," Deila said.

Stefan Johansen faces a fitness test to determine whether he can play tomorrow after suffering a dead leg in Austria, while Derk Boerrigter has a knee problem.