Leigh: I’m your man for derby

players because you need to retain that fluency and intensity, especially in those front areas.

“It’s not just about scoring goals for me, it’s about how they press the game and the intensity they provide.

“The press starts from players pressing up the pitch, it’s an important dynamic for the team.

“Strikers will always want to score goals. That’s how they get judged: goals and games.

“But we have to have strikes who can press, can set them tempo of intensity at the top end of the field.

“If not, the whole structure of the team doesn’t work quite so well. There is no doubt he has the ability to score goals, as does Moussa [Dembele], as does young Odsonne [Edouard]. The great thing is we now have three strikers all fighting for that place.”

Griffiths himself admitted that he has endured a tough couple of weeks but insisted that he is ready to take his chance.

“It’s been a frustrating time for me, not scoring and not playing as much as I would like,” he said. “I got the nod today and managed to get a goal and help the team get three points.

“As a striker, you can only play well and score goals and try and get that jersey the next game. We have a lot of competition for places. We have a big game at the weekend.

“But there is a lot of competition for places between me, Moussa and Odsonne. We have a big game at the weekend so we will see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Rodgers is optimistic that Jonny Hayes’ injury may not be as severe as was initially feared. The Irish internationalist was stretchered off amid fears he had broken his ankle. There was an audible crack when Hayes and Josh Meekings came together in the middle of the park, although there is a belief that it was the breaking of shinpads that echoed around the stadium.

“It was clearly hurting him a lot when he was on the pitch, you could see that,” said Rodgers. “I feared the worst when I heard the noise.

“There was a noise but I think it must have just been a clash of their shinpads. He is away for an x-ray and that will tell us where he’s at. We are hoping it’s just bruising of his shin bone.

“Both boys came off so I hope Josh is okay as well.”