GRIFF CAP DIDN’T FIT

Rodgers: You have no business being on the pitch as a pro if you’re not able to give 100 per cent

BRENDAN RODGERS insists Leigh Griffiths did the right thing by snubbing Scotland.

But as he plans for today’s crunch game against Hibs with his striker on the injured and ill list, the Celtic manager says only time will tell if the hitman’s brave approach is going to pay off.

Griffiths withdrew from the international set-up for the games against Israel and Portugal to work on improving his physical condition.

Rodgers feels it was the correct move and backed his attacker to make the call to national coach Alex Mcleish.

However, as irony saw Griffiths struck back down during the break, his club boss admits the supporters will have to wait and see if the project has been a success.

Rodgers said: “I think he made the right decision when he spoke to me beforehand.

“For the fact that in top-level sport, in international football and at a top club, you have no business being on a pitch if you are not physically right.

“I have said that since the first day I came in here. You have no business being on a football pitch.

“You have supporters who give their lives to follow their team and follow their country and some not earning anywhere near the money that footballers will make.

“The bare minimum requirement is you are physically fit.

“Leigh was brave enough to recognise he was not. So he has to do something about it.”

Rodgers, meanwhile, says Scott Brown deserves the time to consider his future in football.

The Celtic captain is in the twilight of his career and the final year of his deal at Parkhead.

Brown is in talks over another extension but also has options including a potential switch to the Australian A-league.

Rodgers says Brown is happy and unaffected as he considers his next move and is adamant his skipper’s service to Celtic means he should be granted proper time to weigh up his position.

The boss also understands potential temptations as he said: “I’m not surprised if there are people in for Scott.

“He’s shown incredible loyalty to Celtic but he has got the football rewards from it as well. After 10 years, he’s been great for the club.

“Scott loves being here, but sometimes towards the end of a career, players can get offered financial reward for two or three years that they may not get again in their life.”