WHAT do you see when you look at Leigh Griffiths? To some, particularly supporters of Celtic and Hibernian, he is a hero. To others, particularly supporters of Hearts and Rangers, he is a villain. To many, he is a talent unfulfilled, with his problems off the field and a lack of application holding him back from making the very best of his undoubted ability.
For Callum McGregor? “I see a talented boy and somebody who has had massive success at the club.”
And it is hard to argue those points. His late goal against Aberdeen on Wednesday night was a timely reminder of the poacher’s instinct that has had so many managers willing to overlook his off-field foibles.
Whether his talent alone will be enough to take him to the European Championships with Scotland this summer remains to be seen. But McGregor says it is the responsibility of his teammates to keep Griffiths on the straight and narrow all the way through to the summer, as the residual benefits for both club and country would be obvious.
“You just look back to his 40 goals that season,” McGregor said.
“It is well-documented his problems and us as teammates, we try to help him as much as we can.
“I feel that is our duty to keep him on the right track, training well and looking after himself because we all get the benefit of that and so does he.
“That’s the type of striker you want around you in a squad when you are going for trophies, with that killer instinct.
“He still has a lot of time in the game and he has that undoubted quality, it is about everyone keeping him pushing, healthy and happy and scoring goals because that is what he is best at. That is what everybody needs to do.
“He absolutely has the quality [to make the Euros squad], it is undoubted. He is the best finisher I have seen. He gets one chance and it is a goal.
“For him, [the priority] is to keep working hard, doing the right things every day and trying to get as much game time as possible.
“After that ,you just never know, especially with someone of his quality. If we can get him in the squad and firing then he would be a huge asset.
“That is the difference with the top strikers who have that real killer instinct. I think he has got that.”
McGregor knows that no player, even one with a back catalogue of goals in big matches like Griffiths enjoys, can dine out on past achievements forever. But he is hoping that Scotland boss Steve Clarke may factor in his Celtic teammate’s penchant for the big occasion when he makes his final decision.
“I think he will have a lot of things to think about as the manager, what type he takes, and he will be covering all bases,” he said. “Big experience in games has to count for something as well.
“I am not going to sit here and tell him who to pick. It is the manager’s choice, but a fit and firing Leigh is a real asset to the squad.
“We just need to wait and see what happens.”
McGregor, fitness permitting, is already assured of his place in Clarke’s final 23 for the summer, but the Euros are providing a welcome motivating factor to keep performing at the top level for Celtic in the dead rubber fixtures that remain for them this season.
Not that there was any chance of McGregor allowing his own standards to drop, despite being unaccustomed to a situation where the season is limping to a trophyless conclusion.
“That is the professionalism of the players,” he said. “Every time you represent yourself, the club, your family and you have to do things properly, regardless of silverware but you are still playing for pride.”
And the fact their new manager may be watching on?
“We try not to think about it,” said McGregor. “It is a decision for the club.
“There is a lot of noise and subconsciously you are probably thinking about it, but us as players and professionals we have to do our jobs, keep representing ourselves, and when the club makes the decision you go again and it is a fresh slate.
“Everybody keeps pushing to impress the new manager, it doesn’t change.”
At Pittodrie during the week, Scott Brown found himself in the unusual position of trying to impress the manager in the opposing dugout rather than any potential new Celtic boss, and McGregor admits it will be an odd experience going up against his long-time midfield companion next season.
“He will be the one kicking me,” he joked. “It will be strange but it will be interesting to go up against him.
“Him and I have always been partners in there and I am looking forward to the challenge and I am sure he will as well. “It is a new chapter for him. “He has been an unbelievable captain for Celtic, a huge leader and presence and Aberdeen will be gaining a real good one. “I am looking forward to it.”
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