TALKING CELTIC
WHEN a Scottish footballer whose main job is to score goals receives the highest of praise from Denis Law, it’s akin to Robert De Niro watching an amateur dramatic play and then complimenting your method acting.
The great man, now 77, didn’t need much of a prod to talk up Leigh Griffiths with some passion it has to be said. It turns out the Celtic man is a player Law has watched and admired for some time.
Griffiths scores goal, lots of them, and that’s why the living legend, who got 333 in what was a remarkable career, likes the cut of the Scotland international. His double against England being a case in point.
At 26, the Celtic striker is about to enter his peak years and this season should see him join his club’s 100 club. He is only 15 goals away from three figures for the champions and two short of 200 career goals.
That’s some feat especially as things have not always gone to plan for this likeable if flawed individual.
Law, who looked in great nick, has been really impressed with his fellow Scot’s form for Celtic and, latterly, his country.
“Leigh is an excellent player,” said Law. “I was surprised he was left out of a few games at the start of the Scotland campaign. I didn’t understand that. He is a goalscorer and that’s what you need in any football team. “You’ve got to have guys who can give him the ball and whatnot but Leigh Griffiths is one of the best. Without a doubt. “The whole point about him is he scores goals. Sometimes players like that are not in the game of course because the other team is playing well and you’re not getting the opportunities. “But when Griffiths gets the ball in and around that area, there is a fair chance it will be going in the back of the net. “You can’t say that about many players. These guys are exceptional. Other players create the chances but there is only one in Scotland who can take them and that’s Leigh. “The boy can score goals and you would never leave him out of the team.” How about that for a ringing endorsement. And yet it took Strachan a bit of time to be won over by the country’s most natural finisher.
That is the thing about Griffiths. He is a great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals. He’s done it in Scotland and Europe, and now with the national team.
However, there remains a feeling that he remains on the outer margins for the Scotland manager.
LAW was not alone in wondering why Strachan seemed reluctant to start with a player he admires so much.
“Well, that’s up to the Scottish manager,” said the man who along with Kenny Dalglish scored more goals (30) than anyone else for the national side.
“The selection is down to Gordon. But if you have a goalscorer such as Leigh then he’s in the team and you build the team around him.
“The game is difficult. You need a good goalkeeper, a strong defence, midfielders who can create but, at the end, you need someone to score the goals and, for me, Griffiths is the man for Scotland. Indeed, he’s been that way for the last few years.”
Law famously played golf in 1966 rather than watch England win the World Cup. Turns out, he still finds it difficult to watch when the Auld Enemy a r e involved.