TALKING CELTIC
JOHN Hartson, the last Celtic striker to hit 100 goals for the Parkhead side in 2005, believes Leigh Griffiths is good enough to bag a double century if he remains at the club for the long-term.
Griffiths took a significant step towards the milestone when he took his tally to 96 with the winning goal at Firhill on Wednesday evening and Hartson has enthused about the striker’s development across the board at the club.
It has been something of a staccato season for t he Scotland internationalist with a combination of niggling injuries and a rotation system among the three frontmen at the club restricting his ability to sustain a run in the team.
Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, has repeatedly shied away from questions about the striker’s place in the pecking order at the club but Hartson was far more unequivocal.
“If he stays on at the club – and it certainly looks as though his heart is there – then who knows? He could go on and get 200 goals,” said the affable pundit.
“He is still a relatively young guy at just 27 and he has a ton of football left in him. There is no stopping the team just now.
“Whatever you say, Brendan’s side are far and away from everyone else and it seems now that it will be a drive to try to get 10-in-a-row.
“For me, no matter who else might come in, Leigh will be pivotal to that. He has had a big part to play at the club and so long as he stays fit then there is no telling where he could go or the numbers he could get.”
With Moussa Dembele’s situation at Celtic still unresolved, it seems inevitable that the French under-21 internationalist will be on the outside looking in against Hibs on Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park and then again when the Parkhead side host Hearts on Tuesday evening.
That may well pave the way for Griffiths to take further strides towards the 100 mark and claim his invitation into one of the more illustrious groups that Celtic boast.
“In the club’s 130-year old history there are only 28 of us who have hit the 100 mark,” said Hartson.
“Whatever you think of it, that is quite something. It was huge for me when I done it in my time at the club and it will be huge for Leigh too.
“It really is quite a humbling experience when you see the players who have achieved it – and also the quality of other players who have been at the club and didn’t get so many.
“It really is something to go and tell your kids about. When Jimmy McGrory Bobby Lennox Henrik Larsson Stevie Chalmers Jimmy Quinn Patsy Gallacher John Hughes Sandy McMahon Jimmy McMenemy Kenny Dalglish Adam McLean Willie Wallace Jimmy Johnstone Tommy McInally Charlie Nicholas Dixie Deans Jimmy McColl Brian McClair Harry Hood Bobby Collins Johnny Campbell John Hartson Frank McGarvey Neil Mochan Joe Cassidy Bobby Murdoch Alec Thomson John Divers I done it the club brought out a DVD of the goals.
“It is under a pile of books now gathering dust now but the actual milestone still means as much to me now as it did then.
“I scored 110 goals for Celtic in 201 appearances and over the course of five seasons. I missed nine months with two back operations and I always felt that my stats of a goal every two games were pretty good. I am so proud to be on the list and I know exactly how Leigh will feel when he hits it.”
In many ways Hartson’s stats during his time at Celtic were the cloak he could draw around him to deflect any criticism.
THE Welshman’s lack of mobility was criticised at times but his ability to consistently produce in front of goal – after an initial 11game drought when he first arrived at the club – was notable.
There are similarities between the two, with Griffiths relatively unfancied when he was first signed by Celtic. In many ways the former Hibs striker has had to fight for recognition at Celtic, with Hartson applauding his desire and appetite for rising to the challenge.
“I am delighted for Leigh,” he said. “I would be the first to congratulate him. I know what it meant to me and so I can imagine what it will feel like for him. There isn’t a nicer or more hardworking guy that I would want to get it.
“He has been a fantastic signing for the club. I honestly think that last season he took his game to a whole new level with the goals in big, high profile games.
“He has worked really hard at it and not just that, he has stuck to it too. He is a great guy, a humble guy and the Celtic fans love him because he is honest, he is a worker and he gives his all. He really deserves to hit it.”
MEANWHILE, Hartson has revealed that while Hoops fans continually remind him of his celebrated goal at Anfield that put Celtic