By STEPHEN McGOWAN

BRENDAN RODGERS last night offered Leigh Griffiths no guarantees of a Celtic start despite the striker’s scoring comeback. Frustrated by a combination of illness, injury and the presence of Moussa Dembele, the Scotland star marked his first start since November 5 with Celtic’s third goal in the rout of Partick Thistle. A Stuart Armstrong double and a late finish from Callum McGregor eased the

champions to an 11-point lead at the top of the SPFL Premiership as they made it nine straight wins in the league. Reluctant to throw any crumbs to Griffiths despite his scoring comeback, however, Rodgers said: ‘I’ve a mind to win the game — whether it’s Leigh or whoever. I’m not really worried. ‘Whatever the team I choose to play, I’ve nothing in my contract that says I have to play Leigh Griffiths. ‘I’ll play always the team I think can win the game. I respect what Leigh did last season — but I wasn’t here last season. This is a new team with a new cycle of work, a different way of working, a different manager and all the players understand that and that’s why they respect the team that plays.’ Griffiths admitted he could have no complaints over life on the bench after watching Dembele score 17 goals this season. He said: ‘I’ve been itching to

play for the last couple of weeks now. It’s been frustrating to be injured and watching Moussa score. ‘When I have got in, I have tried to pour myself in the team and try to get that starting berth. Tonight I got handed the jersey and did myself no harm.’ Despite a frustrating series of lay-offs Griffiths still has ten goals for the season. ‘It would have been more if I hadn’t got injured. Now it’s about getting a run of games and I’m confident I will score goals. ‘Of course it’s hard. But I can’t fault Moussa. If I had scored lots of goals when he was injured and then he got in the team, I would be asking questions.’ Partick Thistle, meanwhile, remain in the relegation play-off place and Alan Archibald admitted his team had conceded bad goals. Unhappy with a late booking for Ade Azeez for simulation after Celtic keeper Craig Gordon appeared to catch the substitute, the Thistle boss vowed to appeal. ‘There was contact,’ he said. ‘Ade is an honest lad and he wouldn’t go down so I think we’ll appeal. ‘Craig Gordon seems to get away with a few of them, and Jim McIntyre (Ross County boss) said the same. But we don’t want to get anyone sent off, I’m more worried about my player getting booked. ‘A goal then might have given us a bit of belief, but we didn’t deserve anything. Over the course of the game we certainly didn’t.’ Celtic winger James Forrest, meanwhile, has been diagnosed with a minor hamstring problem after limping off against Manchester City in midweek. ‘It’s nothing too serious,’ reported Rodgers. ‘Probably a couple of weeks maximum.’