Griffiths has international potential, says Fenlon

HIBERNIAN manager Pat Fenlon has backed Leigh Griffiths to earn himself a full Scotland call-up if he can maintain his early-season form – and 
new-found maturity.

The on-loan Wolves striker netted a double for the Easter Road side in their 2-1 victory away at St Mirren and came within a whisker of a hat-trick when his free-kick hit the crossbar.

Griffiths, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday, has, at times, cut a controversial figure during a career that started at 16.

Hibs skipper James McPake, then a Livingston team-mate, described Griffiths at the weekend as a “silly wee laddie” when he first broke into the team.

That reckless streak reared its head during last season’s loan spell when he was suspended three times for making gestures to supporters.

The former Livingston and Dundee forward lost his place with the Scotland under-21 squad amidst last term’s disciplinary problems and was overlooked for a third time by Billy Stark for last week’s friendly against Belgium.

However, Fenlon feels that a new-found maturity both on and off the pitch, coupled with the kind of form he has shown against Dundee United, Hearts and St Mirren in the past fortnight, could be enough for the Scotland ‘B’ cap to be recognised by Craig Levein’s full squad.

Asked if performances like Saturday’s would result in Griffiths being talked about in Scotland terms, Fenlon added: “He’s got the potential, there’s no doubt about that, we all know that.

“He’s working hard on all the other stuff off the pitch and, once he gets rid of that stuff, he’s got more ability than a lot of players I’ve seen and his work-rate is fantastic.

“For me, that’s the annoying thing about Leigh, because he’s no problem, he’s a great kid, he just gets himself involved in a little bit of bother off the pitch. But, on it, and training-wise, fantastic. He’s going in the right direction. I’ve not seen a better finisher when he gets a chance and he’s good on both feet.”

After a grim time in the last two years, Hibs responded to a 3-0 defeat to Dundee United on the opening weekend of the season with an Edinburgh derby draw and Saturday’s win in Paisley.

And, having had to dig in for three points against the Buddies, Fenlon is hopeful he is now putting together a squad capable of competing in the SPL, rather than enduring another relegation battle like last season.

Still hoping to strengthen his squad before next week’s transfer deadline, the Irishman added: “We can pass it and we can play, but we can also defend and be difficult to beat, and that’s what we have to be in this league. 
On Saturday we didn’t have a midfielder on the bench, we are a little bit short.”