AS the man who curled in those two long-range free-kicks against England late on in the Russia 2018 qualifier at Hampden back in 2017, Leigh Griffiths will forever be a hero to Scotland supporters.

So when Griffiths made his comeback from a lengthy injury lay-off against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday and broke the deadlock with a header in the final minute of regulation time, it buoyed followers of the national team as well as fans of Celtic.

How the Tartan Army would dearly love to have the striker playing up front for Steve Clarke’s side in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel – the country’s biggest match in over a decade - on Thursday night.

Steven Reid, the Scotland assistant, was pleased to see the 19-times capped player back in action at long last and on the scoresheet once again in Perth and is confident he will be involved with Scotland soon if he can build on his promising display.

“It’s just about consistency,” said Reid. “It’s about playing games week in, week out. He’s found himself in a lot of the time, then out, then back in again.

“We all know the talent he has – finishing, the ability to get himself into positions where he is going to score goals. That is always something we’re going to need. It’s just about that fitness and consistency for Celtic, but he’s a player that absolutely could play a part.”

Yet, Reid knows Clarke has, with Oliver Burke, Lyndon Dykes, Oliver McBurnie and Lawrence Shankland all vying for a starting spot, no shortage of decent options in attack now. He has no concerns about who is going to supply a cutting edge in the final third in the ongoing absence of Griffiths.

The former Republic of Ireland internationalist was certainly, like so many onlookers, impressed with how Dykes acquitted himself in the Nations League matches against Israel and the Czech Republic last month.

The Australian-born footballer, who qualifies to play for this country due to parents who both hail from Dumfries, was arguably Scotland’s best performer on his debut in the former and netted a classic poacher’s goal in the latter.

The 24-year-old, who moved from Livingston to Queens Park Rangers in a £2m transfer back in August, has followed up those encouraging showings by netting against Nottingham Forest and Coventry in the English Championship.

The 6ft 2in target man is certain to be in the starting line-up in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final and Reid has few concerns about him being overawed by the enormity of the occasion.

“Credit to Lyndon, it was a big move for himself and he’s started well there,” said Reid. “He’s off the mark there, he’s off the mark for us. He was confident when he came in and took that club form he’s shown in the last two years into those games.

“I really liked the way he conducted himself the last time he was here. Sometimes I felt when I got into the international set-up, it took me a little while to settle in. He’s settled in straight away and I think that showed.

“Hopefully it’s a bright future for him, both at club and more importantly at the moment to do the business for us.”

Burke may not have opened his account for Sheffield United, who he joined from West Bromwich Albion in the summer, yet despite starting in their Premier League matches against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Arsenal.

However, Reid has been encouraged to see the lightning-quick and powerful forward, who scored a late winner against Cyprus in Clarke’s first match in charge of Scotland in June last year, playing regularly at a high level.

The ex-Blackburn Rovers, West Brom and Burnley utility man believes that Burke, who is still just 23, will develop and mature as a footballer under Chris Wilder in the months ahead and can become a potent weapon for his country.

“Over the last few years, Oli has probably not played as much as he would have liked,” he said. “The loan moves he’s had, he’s been in and out of the team. He’s started the season at Sheffield United and put back-to-back league starts, which he’s not done for a little while.

“Hopefully it’ll be a good move for him. It’s a club that’s not started great, but is on the back of an unbelievable season in the Premier League and have a good manager, someone who I’m sure will be on him making sure he’s doing the right things.

“There’s a couple of Sheffield lads in the Scotland squad as well that will ease the transition with that move and it’s good to see him get a lot of minutes under his belt. Hopefully that’ll him in the long run.”

Reid added: “Do I see him playing up front long-term? He can play a few different positions; he’s got that physicality, pace, power. He can do a variety of roles in those forward positions, which is useful.

“Luckily for us he’s one that can fill on wide or through the middle as well. With the tools he’s got, it’s just a matter of time before he gets himself playing on a regular basis, delivering at club level and delivering with us also.”

There has, with Clarke switching to a 3-5-1-1 formation for the Israel and Czech Republic games, been great speculation about how Scotland will line up at the back on Thursday evening.

Reid, a former full-back like his manager, feels that experimenting with a three man defence in the last double header was a worthwhile exercise and is optimistic the national team will be able to build on their unbeaten streak.

“It’s given us a lot of food for thought going into the next games, what we need to work on, what we did well,” he said. “They were two very useful games to continue the run we’re on, five unbeaten with four wins. It becomes a good habit even if you’re not necessarily at your best, winning games when you’re not playing well. Hopefully we can continue this little run that we’ve got.”