More

    Steve Clarke: ‘Leigh Griffiths will need to be on top form to get Scotland chance’

    Steve Clarke has included the Celtic striker in his squad for the first time.

    Steve Clarke has alerted Leigh Griffiths he will have to be in top shape if he desires the possibility to fire Scotland to Euro 2020.

    The national team boss has included the Celtic striker in his squad for the first time since taking control of as benefit for Griffiths’ recent return to scoring form.

    A mix of injury and individual difficulties have actually avoided the 30-year-old from including to his 19 caps since his last appearance against Albania in September 2018.

    His last goal for Scotland was against Slovenia 11 months prior to that however having actually seen Griffiths find the net against St Johnstone and Aberdeen over the past month, Clarke is persuaded he might yet have a major state as his team appearance to sink Serbia in Belgrade on November 12 and book a place at next summer’s European Champions.

    Nevertheless, the Hampden boss has made it clear Griffiths will have to be at full physical fitness if he is to get his possibility to end up being a national hero.

    Hoops manager Neil Lennon was left fuming when the frontman returned to pre-season training obese and confessed once again after his recent Pittodrie strike he was still not totally up to speed.

    Steve Clarke desires a sharp Leigh Griffiths (PA)

    Now Clarke has motivated the striker to sharp up rapidly.

    “When you look at Leigh over the years he’s always been a goalscorer,” he stated. “He’s a hazardous player in the 18-yard box.

    ” The goal he scored a number of weeks ago at Aberdeen shows you what he’s everything about truly.

    ” In Some Cases off the bench you need a goal and with Leigh in the squad he provides us that option.

    ” Lawrence Shankland provides us it too. The more choices I have actually got the much better and Leigh is definitely among those choices.

    ” I think he has to be 100 percent when he goes to the pitch. Whether he goes to the pitch for 97 minutes, 120 minutes or 20 minutes, he has to be 100 percent.

    “Every player we’re looking to play, has to be at 100 percent for whatever amount of time they are on the pitch.”

    Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and Norwich defender Grant Hanley have also been invited back into a 27-man squad as Steve Clarke gets ready for this month’s vital triple-header, which also consists of journeys to Slovakia and Israel for the Scots’ final 2 Countries League fixtures.

    Gordon was the Hampden hero for Hearts over the weekend as his man-of-the-match screen against Hibernian assisted make the Jambos a place in next month’s William Hill Scottish Cup final.

    Ryan Christie, Stuart Armstrong and Kieran Tierney– who all missed out on last month’s clashes with Israel, Slovakia and the Czech Republic– are back following a duration of self-isolation, while protectors Scott McKenna and Liam Palmer return after getting rid of the knocks which also ruled them out.

    “It’s certainly the biggest squad we’ve had,” stated Clarke. “With 3 away games I believed it would be much better to created a bigger squad.

    ” I have actually constantly liked Craig as a goalkeeper. When he was at Celtic about his

    and where he was, I really spoke has Craig last year.Scotland Craig Gordon

    been remembered by just (Martin Rickett/PA)very” I team felt he was think favorable about being associated with the national big decision once again. I summer to he made a play in the

    “Grant’s had a tough time of if with injury but plays week in, week out when he’s fit. He’s captain of Norwich and has plenty of international caps. Hopefully he stays fit and is a good addition in an area of the pitch where other players have done well recently.”

    leave Celtic and go team will at Hearts, so he’s put himself out there.to Clarke’s Scotland goal to lastly end major’s 22-year wait on reach a also finals when they take major the Serbs, while their Countries League clashes might on have a World Cup bearing

    Scotland currently top the Tartan Army’s 2022 need just hopes.more win to League B2 and play one

    “It’s obviously very, very important that as a group we try to deliver what the Tartan Army want, which is to be in the finals of a major tournament again after a long, long wait,” all-but ensure themselves the insurance plan of a manager- off slot for the competition in Qatar.

    “On the back of that we then have two really important games where we can win the League B section and gain promotion to the A group which would be great for the country and the co-efficient, and would help us in future qualifying campaigns.”

    stated the (*).(*)

    ID:420922: cQx.

    Related articles

    Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Share article

    Latest articles