His critics forget what he has done for his country
SAYS SCOTT BROWN
SCOTT BROWN has backed Leigh Griffiths to become a 30-goal striker again after his self-imposed rest — and told his team-mate’s critics they have short memories of what he has achieved in a Scotland shirt.
Griffiths’ withdrawal from Alex McLeish’s squad ahead of tonight’s clash with Israel has caused ructions in the Scotland camp, with McLeish and assistant James McFadden claiming the striker’s decision has put his future international involvement in doubt.
Despite starting Celtic’s last five matches, the 28-year-old claimed he is better off working on his fitness at Lennoxtown as opposed to playing in Haifa in this evening’s Nations League match.
Accused in some quarters of spitting the dummy after he described Steven Naismith’s likely selection against Israel as ‘a kick in the teeth’, Griffiths’ form will come under increased scrutiny when domestic hostilities resume.
But Brown yesterday insisted the sceptics will soon be left eating humble pie and believes Griffiths’ ‘brave’ decision will be rewarded with a return to top form for club and country.
‘He is in here, he has been working hard,’ said Brown. ‘He says himself that he wants to get as fit as he possibly can.
‘He could have gone away with Scotland but not have worked quite so hard with the possibility of not much game time. He has been doing double sessions and that will benefit him.
‘If he feels that he is not 100 per cent and wants to work on that, then you have got to give the wee man a bit of credit for coming out and actually saying that, because there aren’t a lot of people who would actually have done that.
‘He wants to get himself fitter and we want him back and scoring 20 or 30 goals a season. The wee man will do that.
‘Once he starts playing and getting confidence and everyone gets off his back, he’ll be a great player for both club and country.’
Reminding the Scottish public of the two flashes of brilliance from Griffiths’ left boot that wounded England last year, Brown added: ‘Griff has scored some great goals for Scotland, especially against England and his work rate is always exceptional.
‘What he gives us is that he can go the one behind. He stretches defences but his hold-up play is great.
‘You saw that when he played against Gary Cahill, who is a top-quality centre-half for Chelsea.
‘He held the ball up well, he ran in behind and he caused everyone problems that day and then he scored two wonderful free-kicks.
‘As soon as one thing happens, people want to dive in on top of him but they forget about what he has done in the past for club and for country.’
A player whose natural ability hasn’t prevented him from getting on the wrong side of most of his managers, Griffiths recently claimed that he would never tire of continually proving people wrong. Brown believes his Celtic team-mate is at his most dangerous when his back is to the wall and fully expects him to come flying out of the traps when Celtic host Hibernian on Saturday week.
‘He is a great character,’ said Brown.
‘It is good to have people like that in the dressing room but he is deadly serious about his football. He wants to score goals and that is what makes him happy. ‘He always wants to be there or thereabouts and as soon as someone has the ball, he is in the box looking to cause people problems.
‘He just needs that one to fall at his feet and start going. He will score us lots of goals, which is why the manager keeps playing him.’
Asked if a fully-fit Griffiths is Scotland’s most potent weapon, Brown replied: ‘Yeah. To be fair, Naisy (Steven Naismith) is a great pro. He has been there and done it all and has worked with various managers down in England as well.
‘He has been fantastic and Griff has been fantastic and, who knows, maybe the partnership between them could work well for Scotland.’