Celtic

Celtic: Frank McAvennie says Leigh Griffiths should’ve played more

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Image for Celtic: Frank McAvennie says Leigh Griffiths should’ve played more

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie believes the Hoops may have made a mistake by not utilising Leigh Griffiths more this season. 

The 30-year-old, who is valued at £1.35 million (Transfermarkt), has been a lesser-seen entity this term at Celtic Park, making 22 appearances in all competitions and just seven starts in the Scottish Premiership all season.

In that time, Griffiths has managed six goals and two assists throughout a campaign that has been blighted by injury and subsequent lack of fitness.

With 22 Scotland caps and 122 goals in his Celtic career, Griffiths has been a proven performer for the Hoops, whose absence has been sorely missed and placed extra responsibility on the shoulders of Odsonne Edouard.

Whilst the French striker has himself been a prolific goal-getter during his time at Parkhead, former Scotland man McAvennie has told Football FanCast that Griffiths should have featured more:

“I look at him and think, he’s the best striker at Celtic. At the moment he’s better than Edouard, finishing I mean, he’s the best finisher at the club. You give him a chance and he’ll put it away, that’s what he does.

“I’d have played Griffiths, I’d have stuck with it. I don’t get this in the modern-day game, people saying he’s not fit. I’ve heard John Kennedy saying he’s not fit, Neil Lennon saying he’s not, that’s on you, you’re the manager. What are all these fitness coaches getting paid for?”

Who is the better finisher?

Odsonne Edouard

Odsonne Edouard

Leigh Griffiths

Leigh Griffiths

Recent reports have claimed league rivals Aberdeen are interested in making Griffiths their second Celtic capture at the end of the season, having already secured Scott Brown in a player-coach capacity.

Given the lack of game time afforded to the man hailed as ‘tremendous’ by former national team boss Alex McLeish, it’d be easy to understand why the Edinburgh-born ace may consider bringing an end to his seven-year spell with the club.

From a Celtic perspective, with Edouard’s future very much up in the air as prospective targets continue to make their interest known, the Hoops should be wary of making wholesale changes, having already lost an experienced manager and captain.

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