Leigh Griffiths helps Hibs go top of SPL, then wins Scotland call-up

By MARK ATKINSON
Published on 12/11/2012 10:04

leigh Griffiths was last night called into the Scotland squad, capping off an eventful day in which he scored in Hibs’ 2-1 win over Dundee United that sent the Easter Road side top of the SPL table and then confirmed that he wants to stay at the club until the end of the season.

Hibs’ win, coupled with Celtic’s 1-1 home draw with St Johnstone, moved them two points clear of the champions, and in the wake of Griffiths’ 12th goal in 12 games, the 22-year-old striker was named in Billy Stark’s squad for Wednesday night’s friendly against Luxembourg along with Inverness’s Andrew Shinnie and Kilmarnock’s Liam Kelly.

The trio have been drafted into the squad on the back of nine withdrawals. Injuries to James Morrison (groin), Phil Bardsley (hamstring), Steven Fletcher (ankle), Shaun Maloney (abdominal), Charlie Adam (groin), Matt Phillips (toe), Barry Bannan (knee), David Marshall (groin) and Jamie Mackie (ankle) mean it will be a somewhat depleted squad that flies out to Luxembourg.

Hibs manager Pat Fenlon, meanwhile, said that the club was working on a deal for Griffiths after the striker revealed in a brief television interview that he wants to stay at Easter Road. “Leigh wants to stay to the end of the season and it’s important that we get that done,” he said.