Celtic face Hamilton on Wednesday night in the Scottish Premiership.
The 27-year-old has been left on the bench for Celtic’s last three outings against Anderlecht in the Champions League as well as Motherwell and Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.
It has seen former Liverpool and Swansea City manager Rodgers instead opt to start Paris Saint-Germain striker Odsonne Edouard as he continues to be in the midst of a resurgent spell in his season-long loan, while Moussa Dembele remains first-choice despite his injury.
Craigan believes Scotland international Griffiths will be left frustrated by Rodgers’ decision, describing the former Hibernian goal getter as “banished” but is confident that he can return to shine in Glasgow’s green and white once again.
“For the third game in a row Leigh Griffiths sat idle on the Celtic bench and had to watch Edouard and Dembele chase the glory and goals,” Craigan said. “Rodgers seems to have banished Griffiths to the role of third-choice striker and that’s not something he will enjoy.
“Strikers are very precious and enjoy being in the limelight, so more than anything, Griffiths’ ego will be taking a battering at the minute. However, he has been here before and he’s bounced back before, so he will see this as a test of his resolve.
“Goalscoring is his forte and there are very few better than him at it, so don’t write him off just yet – he’ll likely prove you wrong.”
Griffiths has been in excellent form this term despite starting just 16 of his 25 league and cup outings. Scoring nine goals, the goal machine has also shown his creative instincts with eight assists.
It remains to be seen if Griffiths will become frustrated to the extent that he requests a move from Celtic Park, with his contract scheduled to end in the summer of 2021.
But he could be veering towards that decision as Rodgers continues to overlook him in favour of French duo Dembele and Edouard.
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