Griffiths set to get the nod from Strachan
LEIGH GRIFFITHS’ meteoric rise will be recognised by Gordon Strachan this week when the Scotland manager names his squads for the double-header against the Czech Republic and Denmark.
The Celtic striker was out in the cold as an unused substitute in the Euro 2016 qualifiers in the games against Germany and Poland that sealed the country’s fate at the end of last year.
But, after a fantastic scoring run which has seen him score 33 goals already this season, he is set to be promoted into the starting line-up as Strachan abuilds for the World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign.
The national coach plans to name two separate 16-man squads for the matches, on March 24 away to the Czechs, and at home to Denmark five days later.
And while they will be of mixed strength, Griffiths will be given his chance to take a major step towards realising his ambition of making the Scotland main striker’s role his own.
“My first goal was to establish myself at Celtic and having achieved that the next step for me is definitely that of breaking into the Scotland starting XI,” said the 25-year-old.
“There is a lot of tough competition on that front with some of the guys playing their football at a good level down in England.
“But if I keep doing my job for Celtic and scoring goals you never know what can happen.
“So I am looking forward to whatever game I am chosen to play in also that it will be a good opportunity against good opposition.”
Robert Snodgrass will make his return to the international fold for the first time in three years.
The attacker missed the whole of the failed Euro 2016 campaign after suffering a bad injury on his debut for Hull City in August 2014.
The effect of his absence was recognised by Strachan, who rates him one of the country’s top creative talents in an area where he is spoilt for choice.
He will be joined by his on-form Hull teammate Andrew Robertson, the 21-year-old who is currently being watched by Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal.
The national coach will, however, have to do without the services of James McArthur, who could be out until the end of the season after tearing his ankle ligaments in Crystal Palace’s Premier League loss to Bournemouth.