---
title: "Celtic: Steve Clarke explains why Leigh Griffiths has been called up for Scotland"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-steve-clarke-explains-why-leigh-griffiths-has-been-called-up-for-scotland/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Nathan Linley"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2020-11-04T16:30:23Z"
modified: "2020-11-04T16:30:23Z"
---

# Celtic: Steve Clarke explains why Leigh Griffiths has been called up for Scotland

**Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has hailed Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths after selecting him for the national team.**

### It’s Griffiths time

The 30-year-old was picked to feature in the country’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Serbia and Slovakia and they are currently unbeaten in Group Two of Tier B from their first four games ([Fotmob](https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/9807/table/uefa-nations-league-b)).

After picking up [19](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leigh-griffiths/nationalmannschaft/spieler/45611/verein_id/3380) caps already, Griffiths has not featured since [2018](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leigh-griffiths/nationalmannschaft/spieler/45611/verein_id/3380) and his next appearance for Scotland will have been a long time coming.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”302517″\]

Speaking during his press conference ( via [Clyde 1 Superscoreboard](https://twitter.com/ClydeSSB/status/1323636431483510784)), Clarke went detailed the reasons why he selected Griffiths, having scored two goals from four games this season ([TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leigh-griffiths/leistungsdaten/spieler/45611)).

“When you look at Leigh \[Griffiths\] over the years, he’s always been a goalscorer,” he said.

“He’s a dangerous player in the 18-yard box. I think the goal he scored against Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago in the league, it shows you what he is all about really.

“Sometimes, off the bench, you need a goal. With Leigh in the squad, he can give us that option.

“The more options I’ve got in the squad, the better. Leigh is certainly one of those.”

### Transfer Tavern take

Selecting a player who has scored 117 times in 238 outings for Celtic will always prove to be a useful option ([TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leigh-griffiths/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/45611)), so Clarke’s reasons for selecting Griffiths make perfect sense.

His prolific record will not just benefit Neil Lennon in his side’s pursuit to secure 10-in-a-row, but Scotland’s cause to climb up the Nations League tiers and qualify for a major tournament for the first time since 1998.

But having not played internationally for two years, he will have to perform and show what his country has been missing.

***In other news, [Scotland great describes Celtic star’s goal as “one of the best”](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-ally-mccoist-drools-over-ryan-christies-strike-against-aberdeen/).***