Griffiths needs to fight for Celtic place: Rodgers

GLASGOW: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has told Leigh Griffiths he must work harder if he is to force his way back into his plans for the rest of the season.

Last season the Scottish striker seemingly could do no wrong as his 40 goals for the Hoops propelled the Glasgow giants to the Scottish Premiership title and helped him claim a trio of player of the year awards.

But the 26-year-old has found life tougher since the arrival of Rodgers in the summer and has started just 10 league matches with the Hoops manager favouring French forward Moussa Dembele in the lone striker role.

Griffiths missed Sunday’s 4-0 win over Hearts with a calf injury and his manager, who is preparing his side for the visit of Aberdeen today, said the former Wolves striker needs to put in some hard graft at training to improve his fitness. “What I’ve said to him is about making sure the talent is a working talent,” Rodgers said. “Because talent’s not good enough on its own. “You have to work at it and it’s a cycle. It’s one where, when he’s playing and fit, Leigh’s very good but can still work harder in training. “The problem is if you’re not getting the games and then if you’re not quite on it in training then you’re losing fitness.

“But then the moment you’re asked to come in and get up to speed in a real hightempo, intense game, the moments that are there for you to risk injury are far greater.

“You have to work tirelessly every day or unfortunately you’ll get left behind.”

Despite his form last season Griffiths was warned by then boss Ronny Deila that he would have to become a 24-hour athlete to succeed in his career at Celtic.

And Rodgers, who has led his side to the League Cup and 22 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership following a recordbreaking 27 match unbeaten run, echoed that sentiment. “It’s a difficult period for him with that injury,” the Celtic manager said. “But the only way you can overcome that is by working 24 hours a day for your profession, for your life. “He’s a good kid, a great boy, but he understands where he’s at. We all know the talent, but it won’t be good enough on its own. “We speak a lot and it’s not easy because he hasn’t played maybe as much as he did last year. The reasons are simple for that.

“He’s a player I really admire, a player we really want to have here.—AFP