Hibs’ Leigh Griffiths told to win back Scotland place
Leigh Griffiths
Scotland under-21 boss Billy Stark has urged Leigh Griffiths to concentrate on football and earn a international recall after the Hibs striker was left out of young Scots’ latest squad.
Griffiths, who has earned ten under-21 caps, was omitted from the team to face Holland in a European Championship qualifier at St Mirren Park a week tomorrow, with Stark citing the former Livingston striker’s recent ill-discipline at club level – and subsequent lack of game time due to suspension – as the reason.
Griffiths has earned three suspensions in the last ten weeks, each time for making obscene gestures towards supporters during a match, and has missed four matches for Hibs as a result.
“We felt that there has been so much happening with Leigh – he’s had three suspensions and, because of that, he hasn’t played,” said Stark. “There’s a good opportunity now for Leigh to get his head down. I felt he should concentrate on his football and not have reason to grab headlines for the wrong reasons.”
Asked whether the omission of Griffiths was due to the nature of his suspension or the player’s lack of game time, Stark said: “It amounts to the same thing: suspensions mean you don’t play. Nobody’s angels, and he’s a young boy. I was a young boy myself once and did daft things.”
The proportion of Hibs players in the under-21 set-up has been halved, with an influx of new faces putting paid to the involvement of Griffiths and left-back Callum Booth. However, Paul Hanlon, the Easter Road centre-half, will remain captain of Stark’s side.
The national team manager said: “Paul’s been in the game almost as long as me! He has had trials and tribulations this season, but as a young centre-half he has done well at Hibs. People look at Hibs losing goals, but Paul Hanlon is doing well.”
The exclusion of Booth is due to a combination of a niggling injury and the form of Old Firm loan pair – and Booth’s fellow left-backs – Lewis Toshney and Darren Cole.
“There are always difference circumstances affecting players, particularly at under-21 level with many not playing at any given time.
“Callum has featured [for Scotland under-21s] recently, but he’s carrying a wee injury just now. Toshney at Kilmarnock [on loan from Celtic] and Cole at Partick [from Rangers] are doing well in his position. Callum is good going forward but has suffered in the Hibs back four this season. He has good balance and is still in our thoughts.”
Across the city, Hearts reserve goalkeeper Mark Ridgers has been handed a call-up by Stark, but there was no place for midfielder Scott Robinson, who has appeared frequently for the Jambos first team in recent weeks.
“I have a long list of midfielders,” explained Stark. “Robinson doesn’t figure this time, but we’ll see him back in a Scotland jersey, I’m sure.”
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Comments
There are 36 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Skullduggery
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:49 PMbalderdash
Badboy
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:37 PMDundee U overtake hearts?
MrHibs07-1973
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:53 PMComment removed by moderator
BASHABIGOT
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:35 PMps 31, after post #17 i hardly think you can call anyone childish.
BASHABIGOT
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:29 PM31, multiple id's ?? maybe its a mental disorder kinda thing.
Vietnam Veteran
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 07:56 PMCapital letters - how childish - maybe it's an ego thing?
BASHABIGOT
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 07:27 PM28, Eeyore hibs do not play in leith.
BASHABIGOT
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 07:24 PMi cry each time i pass the san giro too, tears of laughter!!, PMSL
Vietnam Veteran
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 07:16 PMHi lads me again! - I damn well love being a hibby - i cry when i pass the san siro leitho..
Vietnam Veteran
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 07:15 PMHi lads me again! - Aye gid evening mrhibs - just had a lovely tea - boiled overalls - boilersuit sweet - and a 25 staine wafer...
BASHABIGOT
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:58 PMquality!! mr hibs telling someone to behave comedy gold.
Robbo27Hammerof the hibs
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:57 PMleigh griffiths total piece of scum supposed to be a hibbie but even tells the hibs fans where to go, hibs deserve better than this so and so
Robbo27Hammerof the hibs
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:52 PM#21 don't concern yourself too much with hearts, only 24 hours until you lot get horsed by m'well, then killie tick tock tick tock bottom six
waspy100
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:49 PM#17 Venereal Victem. Aye right
annamac
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 04:52 PMPending Moderation
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