Striker must bounce back from pre-season

JOHN Rankin has questioned whether Neil Lennon has made the right decision in leaving Leigh Griffiths out of Celtic’s squad that is heading to France.

Scotland international Griffiths did not travel with hs team-mates to their training camp in Loughborough and will now miss out on matches against Lyon, Nice and PSG due to fitness issues meaning he was left to work on his own at Lennoxtown.

The 29-year-old, who turns 30 next month, now faces a battle to edge his way into Lennon’s plans ahead of the new season starting on August 1.

But former Dundee United and Hibs man Rankin, who retired from football last month, reckons Celtic should have handled the situation differently instead of leaving Griffiths out on a limb.

Appearing on BBC Sportsound, Rankin said: “I question whether dealing with it this way is the best way to handle it.

“Maybe keeping him among the group might have been better than leaving him here and punishing him.

“He’s not responded himself when he’s been training alone during lockdown, and he’s now going to be forced to stay here and train alone again.

“Is that going to be the best way of getting him back for the start of the season?

“Maybe Neil’s making everyone looking at it from the outside realise that Leigh’s not been putting in the effort that’s required.

“But where else are Celtic going to get the goals Leigh Griffiths will get? They need him.”

He continued: “It’s down to character and discipline – the man can make himself a legend.

“I hope he applies himself in the next few weeks and it sets him up for the rest of the season.

“You don’t want your career to end prematurely. You look back at a game 11 years ago and it feels like yesterday.

“Leigh Griffiths has still got plenty of time ahead of him. Especially when you’re at a club like Celtic, you want to make the most of it while you can.

“There’s a championship to be played for and with tenin-a-row there’s the chance

Is that the best way of getting him back for the new season?