TALKING CELTIC
HAVING felt the full force of a baying Tynecastle crowd, Leigh Griffiths believes his immunity to hostility is well practised.
The Celtic striker is always guaranteed a particular welcome in Gorgie given his affection for boyhood side Hibs, but running the gauntlet in Edinburgh ought to serve Griffiths well as the Parkhead side prepare for a potential trip to Linfield next month.
But while Griffiths has no qualms about the reception that could await Brendan Rodgers’ side he has brushed off any fears about the expected rancour from the home support.
“I go Tynecastle – that’s worse!” he laughed. “Going to Tynecastle is worse than any place I have ever been. It’s directed at me and Scott Brown.
“We know it will be a hostile environment, but if they do get through hopefully it’s about us. If we put in a professional performance then hopefully we can come in with a decent lead and we look forward to the home leg.
“When I first went to Tynecastle I couldn’t buy a win and then we had two draws and a win with Hibs. Ever since I’ve not been beaten. Good omens”
“There’s been a lot of talk about when the game in Belfast will take place but that’s showing no respect to the team from San Marino.
“Linfield have to win them and then we can start talking about our game. Right now we’re jumping a little bit too far ahead.”
Celtic have refused to accept their allocation of tickets for the clash with Linfield, assuming the Northern Irish side progress.
While that might lead to a more intimidating atmosphere for the visitors, Griffiths is insistent that it will be a purely professional performance from Rodgers’ side.
“If Celtic don’t want to take tickets then they don’t want to take tickets,” said the striker. “It’s all about keeping the fans safe.
“We know how Linfield are – it’s one of the games we have to do professionally, get the win and look forward to the home leg.”
Griffiths has had 12 days off since his performance against England at Hampden, a display that drew widespread recognition for the striker.
It caught the attention of Rodgers who was one of the first to text his congratulations in the immediate aftermath of the game, and it may well have given the Celtic manager some food for thought.
Moussa Dembele is currently one of Europe’s coveted young talents and with a pricetag of £30m resting on his shoulders, the betting money would be on the Frenchman returning to lead the line for Celtic, assuming the club stand firm in the wake of any interest in him.
And yet, Griffiths’ display in the latter weeks of the season when Dembele was injured as well as the greater maturity and industry of his displays, nota- bl ble againsti tE England,l d may wellll have given Rodgers pause.
CERTAINLY, the striker is reluctant to go back to facing life on the bench.
“The gaffer’s got to take big credit for it because he’s seen improvements in my game since the start of last season,” he said. “I don’t want to be going back on the bench for the full campaign, I want to be playing.
“I’m going to be 27 in August, I’m no spring chicken I’m probably in the best form of my career so far and it’s one of thoseh ones when you don’t want to be playing second fiddle.
“But the manager knows th that. He knows he has two players who want to play week in, week out and it’s up to us to fight it out for that one position.
“It’s a new season, it will be 50-50 it’s just about how hard you work in training, how well you’re looking, how sharp you