Erik eager to have the last laugh on Griffiths

FOR Erik Sviatchenko, the dossier he delivers to Denmark’s players before this evening’s friendly with Scotland will contain a strong warning and a gentle jibe about Leigh Griffiths.

The 24-year- old Celtic defender will relay the information to his fellow defenders that his Parkhead colleague may not be a sharp dresser but the 35-goal forward is most definitely a sharp-shooter.

Sviatchenko, a colourful art-loving fashion blogger who arrived in Glasgow in a £1.5million signing from FC Midtjylland in January, was responding to playful banter from Griffiths over his own sense of style.

While the Dane’s three-piece suit and brown loafers were held up to ridicule at Lennoxtown, however, he would choose them any day over the jogging clothes favoured by the former Hibs and Wolves forward.

And Sviatchenko hopes the pair both get the nod tonight so he can show his own playing style is tailor-made for shutting out the wisecracking Griffiths and the rest of the Scotland attack.

‘It will be interesting going up against Leigh Griffiths because he has been such a key player for us at Celtic this season,’ said the Dane (pictured below). ‘I hope I can get some time on the pitch against him. But I saw him talking about my fashion sense in the newspapers. It’s a good laugh and a bit of fun. As for Leigh’s fashion sense, he comes in to training wearing nice jogging suits — they always match, at least. But what I would say is that Leigh can score goals but he can leave the fashion advice to me.

‘I really hope to get my fifth cap on Tuesday night and I’ll tell my Denmark team-mates whatever they want to know because I know how the Celtic players play.

‘But our coach has done his research and knows a lot as well. We had a really good match against Iceland last week and hopefully we can go on a winning run. We need to bring a winning culture into friendly matches as well as competitive games. Hopefully that can start against Scotland.’

In addition to Griff i ths, there are f i ve other Celtic players in the Scotland squad, i ncluding Charlie Mulgrew, James Forrest, Scott Brown, and Craig Gordon. But Sviatchenko has particularly high hopes f or y oung left-back Kieran Tierney, who could make his international debut at the age of 18.

‘I really hope KT plays,’ he said. ‘It would be great for him. KT has made a great start to his career and to play with him has been a pleasant surprise.

‘I didn’t know of KT before I signed for Celtic but I know him well now. He’s playing with freedom. It’s like he feels: “I can and I will do everything”.

‘It would be nice to see such a good young player get a first cap — and I would be surprised if it was his last. There is no doubt he is a big player of the future.’

With Denmark training at Ibrox last night to protect the Hampden pitch, Sviatchenko was visiting the home of Celtic’s rivals Rangers for the first time. But he was not keen to discuss the keenly- awaited Scottish Cup semi final Old Firm clash on April 17 at Hampden.

‘This is my first time at Ibrox. Will there be more visits to come? We will see,’ said the Dane. ‘But nobody has been asking me about the Scottish Cup game. I am just focusing on Denmark and I am not giving that (the Rangers game) any thought.

‘The coach (Hareide) has spoken to me about playing for Celtic and I feel I am in good form. I have only been here for two months and I feel 100 per cent but I always want to improve. And at this stage, when the season is tightening up, it’s important that we are a team as we go for five in a row.’

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur star Christian Eriksen is hoping to leave storm clouds above Hampden tonight, five years after his last visit amid apocalyptic rain in Mount Florida.

That night a deflected Charlie Adam shot put the Scots ahead in a friendly before Eriksen equalised f rom a f ree - kick. But Robert Snodgrass marked his debut by heading the winner from six yards before half-time to end a winless streak against the Danes stretching back to 1975. ‘I scored the last time we played here but it was the rainiest day I’ve ever seen in Scotland — or anywhere else in the world,’ said Eriksen, who is c hasing an English Premier League title win with Spurs this season. ‘Unfortunately, we will be sitting on the couch watching the Euros instead of taking part. We want to be ready for the Worl d Cup qualifiers in September – and winning is the only way to be ready.’