Parkhead legend give
CELTIC Close call for Rodgers, but strike ace McCluskey backs Leigh to light up Euro clash
BRENDAN Rodgers has a big decision to make before pinning up his team sheet, if this is what still happens, before tomorrow night’s meeting with Rosenborg.
Does he go with Odsonne Edouard, the record buy who the Celtic manager has invested so much time and money in? Or Leigh Griffiths, with his 100 goals for the club? The question has been asked before and the answer so far has gone in Edouard’s favour. However, things have shifted slightly which makes the call an interesting one.
One has a chance to become a real star but is raw and only 20. The Frenchman is a talent but seems to be missing Moussa Dembele.
The other all-but guarantees his team goals, and assists, but has found himself on the side-lines for Celtic and Scotland, something which does puzzle those of us on the outside given what Griffiths keeps doing.
Rodgers has gone with Edouard so far in the bigger matches; however, is this the game he turns to his 28-yearold, who last week agreed a new four-year deal, who is bursting to get a start and whose record in Europe in terms of goals cannot be argued with?
It is a dilemma. Although, were Rodgers to ask a cross section of support, the majority would like to see the lad from Leith who right now faces not one but two charges of allegedly speeding. Griffiths is far from perfect but he knows where the back of the net is.
Rodgers believes 10 points will take Celtic through the Europa League group stage and for that to happen the Scottish champions had better return to winning at home. They have not won a group stage match at Celtic Park for the past three seasons. Now thought.
Goals win games. Football changes all the time but that cliche remains true. So, who would you want out of the two first-team strikers to be through on the Rosenborg goalkeeper with the game sitting at 0-0?
A former Celtic striker, George McCluskey, didn’t miss many chances in his trophy-laden years at the club and is glad that he doesn’t have to make this decision.
Still a youth coach at the club where he won every domestic medal and scored 78 goals, the man who got a winner in the 1980 Scottish Cup Final and scored on the night in 1979 when Celtic
‘‘ Leigh always looks like scoring. He’s a natural goalscorer
there is a won the league, both against Rangers, is a fan of both players. But he was just leaning towards Griffiths when pushed.
“Leigh always looks like scoring,” said McCluskey who remains a huge favourite of supporters of a certain vintage. “He likes shooting from outside the box, which I like, and has great delivery from corners – and there are his free-kicks as well.
“I can’t think of a game where he hasn’t at least made the goalkeeper make a save. He’s a natural goalscorer, you don’t get 100 goals for Celtic by not being that, and his work outside the box and off the ball has got a lot better.
“What people have to keep in mind about Odsonne is that he is 20. In football terms he’s a baby. He’s a young man in a foreign country and for him to achieve what he already has with us it’s great credit to him.
“The manager is a fan and he sees him every day in