Leigh Griffiths keen to play his part for Scotland

He hasn't scored an international goal, has only started four games for his country, but it may yet be the case that hopes will be pinned on Leigh Griffiths to prove Scotland's striking salvation tonight.

Scotland's Leigh Griffiths would love to score against Slovenia

“‘It’s unfair to put that on me,” said the 11-times capped Celtic striker. “Every striker will be the same, whether it be me, Fletch [Steven Fletcher], Jordan [Rhodes], Naisy [Steven Naismith] or Chris [Martin].

“I think all of them have got that knack of being in the right place at the right time and doing their bit for the team.

“It’s all about who the gaffer goes with at the end of the day and they will have the support of everyone else. I hope that’s myself but if not hopefully I will be on that touchline waiting to come on and do my bit. Everybody knows what’s at stake on Sunday. Striker is a prized position and there are five of us going for it with only one getting the nod.

“Whoever it is has to thank their lucky stars that the gaffer is going with them for a must-win game.”

Griffiths has personal as well as professional reasons for wanting the shirt. He concedes he has perhaps been “trying that bit too hard to break my duck and score my first Scotland goal” when “you need to bring others into play”.

He knows he needs to “relax a bit more” and focus on his own game, feeling he has moved on from taking his club manager Brendan Rodgers “pop” over his attitude “on the chin”.

When with Scotland there is another pop getting to him. “Broony [Scott Brown] keeps on teasing me about goals for Scotland and hopefully I can break my duck sooner rather than later.

“He’s been saying he’s scored more than me which is not what I wanted to hear,” said the 25-year-old of his club captain, who boasts four goals in 51 appearances for his country.

“You just have to bide your time and chances will come and then it’s a case of putting them in the net. If it’s tomorrow night I’ll be delighted, if not then hopefully I can do my bit to help the team get the win and move up the table.

“A win would put us one point behind Slovenia and sets us up nicely for the England game. The most important thing is the win regardless of how we achieve it, playing nice football or winning ugly. The manager would take an ugly 1-0 win. It’s the three points that matters.”