ACCORDING to Brendan Rodgers, Celtic have refused thus far to sanction the sale of Moussa Dembele to Lyon because they haven’t found an adequate replacement. While the prospect of someone being parachuted into the Kerrydale Street car park at five to midnight today shouldn’t entirely be discounted, Leigh Griffiths seemed determined last night to prove that they already have one.
If the Northern Irishman’s time at Celtic in general has been an enlightenment, some would have you believe this summer has seen a return to the dark ages in the East End of Glasgow. But if anyone was going to provide the vital spark under the ‘disco lights’ of Parkhead last night it had to be Sparky.
You could say he was in a hurry to make an impression, having had his trial at Dundee’s Justice of the Peace Court for a speeding charge adjourned an hour early so he could make the tie.
When the 27-year-old curled in the trademark left-foot free kick just before the half hour mark which subdued Suduva, all the gloom and angst around a troubling summer transfer window for the club started to lift at least a little bit.
Not only was it Griffiths’ 100th goal for the club – he is the first Parkhead player to join the 100 club here since John Hartson back in 2005 – it was a timely reminder to both his club and international managers about what he has to offer.
With no sign of Dembele while the transfer rumpus rumbles on – the Parkhead side rebuffed a bid for him yesterday – and Odsonne Edouard not yet deemed fit enough to make the squad, this was the perfect opportunity for him to stake his claim. Typically, this wee guy from Leith with the sunny disposition didn’t have to be asked twice.
Griffiths’ century came up in a total of 190 matches, and it has been quite an innings; his strike rate looking even better when you consider that only nine of them have been from the spot and only 127 of those appearances have been from the start.
Who knows, he may have more chance to embellish those vital statistics still further if Dembele, as expected, moves on before the transfer window.
It was also typical of this wee guy that he should contribute so much more than his goal. While he didn’t leave with the match ball, he did leave with the man of the match champagne.
Stinging the palms of the Lithuanian champions’ goalkeeper Ivan Karduk early on after a defensive mix-up, he came looking for the ball short all night and generally held onto the ball cleverly for his team. He would have had his own second of the evening if he hadn’t mis-kicked from an enticing Callum McGregor cross, but settled for having a hand in two of their other goals.
Involved in the fine move which led to Sinclair feeding in Callum McGregor to sweep in the second, Griffiths then found Kristoffer Ajer at the back post as the young Norwegian nodded in the first goal of his Parkhead career, Sinclair almost but not quite getting a touch on the way. He might have had his second Celtic goal before the end too.
The ovation as he left the action on 66 minutes was loud and long, but with one eye on Rangers this Sunday, Parkhead supporters will be hoping the reason he took such an age to trudge off the park owed more to his determination to prolong the applause rather than anything else. The fact he seemed in fine fettle when he returned up the tunnel shortly afterwards with high fives for the rest of the bench would suggest it is the former.
In any case, with no little help to their No 9, there will be two of our teams in today’s Europa League draw, the first time Scotland have had two sides in the group stages for a decade. That at least is something for Celtic fans to cling to, even if they would far rather have had their name pulled out of the hat in the Champions League version yesterday. No two Scottish sides have ever met in continental competition and if Rangers and Celtic were to meet his season it won’t happen before the last 16 stage.
Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard will meet up soon enough, though. And as much as Celtic were discovering their mojo during the second half yesterday, the Northern Irishman and his chief executive Peter Lawwell know fireworks may well be required before the transfer deadline passes at midnight tomorrow.
Youssuf Mulumbu, the former Kilmarnock player who is set to join on a two-year deal, will be damned by the fact he was last spotted as a 31-year-old at Rugby Park. But he is a fine player who will fit seamlessly into Celtic’s style of play and improve the club’s depth if not markedly improve their first team.
There were enterprising cameos too from Ryan Christie and Johnny Hayes, the latter having a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside. Only by the time the transfer deadline is out the way will we know for sure how much of a role they will have to play in Celtic’s season, but Filip Benkovic of Leicester City, who was in attendance last night, seems almost certain to sign on loan.
For the record, Dedryck Boyata cruised through last night, the big Belgian's pace and strength bailing out Craig Gordon when the goalkeeper’s errant pass only succeeded in hitting Gerson Acevedo in stride. The next 24 hours at Celtic promise to be fascinating, but at least the Parkhead side have European football to offer.
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