Setback, says Rankin

to go down in Celtic’s history. There’s European games.

“Scotland have the chance to play in a major tournament for the first time in 23 years.

“If he went away and bulked himself up, and he came back heavier but his body fat was down, I’d have a bit of sympathy for him. If he’d been making himself more robust, that’s one thing. But he’s gone away and put body fat on, and Celtic have punished him.

“During the lockdown you’re dealing first-hand with players and more often than not you’re asking for half-an-hour or an hour from them to go and do some exercise, not just for their physical state but for their mental state. It looks like Leigh hasn’t done that.”

John Hughes also had sympathy for Griffths, who he managed at Falkirk, but he insists the squad exclusion could work in his favour if he puts in the work to get back to full fitness.

He added: “It is disappointing not just for Celtic but for Leigh as he is a lovely guy, I know him personally.

“I have always said if you play him on a regular basis he will get well into 20-25 goals a season.

“I just hope he can get his head down, get himself fit and get himself back in that Celtic team.

“I’m hoping it might just be the wake-up call, he might just say I’m going to work morning, noon and night so when they come back from France I’m going to be right back in amongst it.

“I love him, I absolutely love him to bits. He is a lovely lad and I think it could be the best thing that could ever happen to Leigh Griffiths.

“I hope he just goes I’ll show these guys and he gets back and he’s scoring all the goals for Celtic and he’s back in the Scotland squad.”