Brendan Rodgers had defended Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths’ decision to withdraw from the Scotland squad for the latest international break, calling the forward ‘brave’.
Griffiths was heavily criticised in some quarters putting both his personal and club career ahead of national duty, but Rodgers believes it was the best thing possible for all parties, including the Hoops supporters.
As quoted by BBC Scotland, Rodgers said:
For me, it was the right decision he made.
Purely on the basis if you want to be involved in top level sport and you want to play internationally and you want to play for a top club then unless you’re physically fit, you’ve got no business being on the pitch.
Our supporters live their life for this club and the very least they expect when you come onto the field is you’re fit. So I think Leigh was brave enough to think he wasn’t at the right level to help his country and help Celtic.
Griffiths missed this weekend’s clash with Hibernian through illness and Rodgers went on to admit that the striker does need to improve his fitness if he wants to keep being selected ahead of Odsonne Edouard and match the required intensity of his side.
Hopefully with a renewed focus on fitness Griffiths can go on to compete well with the Frenchman, who in recent matches has appeared to be getting back to his best.
Celtic need two quality strikers at their disposal to compete in all competitions and as long as the Scotland international is putting club action before the international stuff, it can only help his career and the Hoops too.