Rodgers dismisses Griffiths AWOL talk
BRENDAN RODGERS last night shot down the social media gossip that claimed Leigh Griffiths had gone AWOL from Celtic. Rumours suggesting Griffiths had not been in contact with the club since Monday began to spread online in the wake of Thursday’s Europa League defeat to RB Leipzig. The 28-year-old striker, who withdrew from Scotland duty earlier this month to concentrate on his fitness, missed last weekend’s Premiership win over Hibernian with a calf problem and was not part of the squad that travelled to Germany in midweek. However, Rodgers insisted Griffiths — who has also been suffering from illness — had kept in regular communication during his enforced absence. The player underwent scans on his injury yesterday and will sit out tomorrow’s Betfred Cup semi-final against Hearts at Murrayfield as Celtic try to plot his swift return. ‘It’s all social media,’ said Rodgers. ‘He hasn’t been well. He didn’t go away with the international
team, then he got injured and then he has been ill for a number of days now. ‘I spoke to Leigh when we trained at Murrayfield (on Tuesday) to check on how he was. He’s been ill so he’s been kept away from the squad. ‘He has been connecting every day with our head physiotherapist, Tim (Williamson), and he probably gets about 20 messages a day off him, so there is no chance you are not connecting with Leigh. ‘We just want to get him fit and back into the squad again. ‘He’s away for some more scans today with Tim. ‘So that’s just the way it is sometimes with social media. ‘There is always a bit of tittle-tattle which runs and takes its own life with these stories. ‘He’s very much in contact with the club. ‘Like all our players, we try to ensure their welfare. ‘That is of the utmost importance to us, so we can get them on the field to play. ‘He has obviously had issues and problems through injury and whatever. ‘At this time there’s nothing further to add. ‘He is unavailable and we continue to monitor it and see where he is at.’ Celtic were missing a number of key players for the 2-0 defeat in Leipzig and suffered further injury blows when Jozo Simunovic and Cristian Gamboa both had to be replaced. Rodgers admitted Simunovic was ‘highly unlikely’ to be fit to face Hearts tomorrow, meaning a likely centre-back starting pair of Filip Benkovic and Jack Hendry as Dedryck Boyata is suspended. The Parkhead manager is, however, hopeful that midfielder Tom Rogic could recover from a knee issue in time for the game. The Australian international has an impressive big-game record and Rodgers admits his presence at Murrayfield would be a sizeable boost. ‘Absolutely — and especially when you see the form Tom’s been in these last few weeks,’ he added. ‘That real aggressive aspect has returned to his game and he’s linked up well with James Forrest so, if we can get him in, he’s a big-game player. ‘He enjoys these occasions and normally gets the big goals in the big games so it would be good to have him available.’