Rodgers quashes Griffiths AWOL rumours

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has dismissed social media “tittle tattle” claiming striker Leigh Griffiths has gone AWOL.

Rumours spread online on Thursday that the Scotland forward had not been seen at the Hoops’ Lennoxtown training base since Monday.

But Rodgers said: “It’s all social media. 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 to check 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’s no chance you’re 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’s 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.”

A Celtic side missing a number of key players through injury suffered a 2-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in Thursday night’s Europa League clash in Germany.

But while Rodgers is hopeful Tom Rogic may recover from the knee problem which saw him stay behind in Glasgow, there was more bad news ahead of tomorrow’s Betfred Cup semi-final with Hearts at Murrayfield after Jozo Simunovic and Christian Gamboa both limped off at the Red Bull Arena.

Rodgers said. “They will go for a scan today.” James Tavernier admits he would love to become the first Rangers skipper since David Weir seven years ago to get his hands on a major trophy.

Steven Gerrard’s team can take a step closer to ending that drought when they face Aberdeen tomorrow at Hampden and Tavernier is determined to claim his place in the club’s history books.

“I want to lift trophies