Leigh Griffiths scored twice for Celtic on Saturday afternoon.
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has revealed to The Glasgow Evening Times that he knew he would only play 65 minutes of Saturday’s 4-1 win over Hearts.
The Scottish hitman moved within 13 goals of becoming a Celtic centurion by scoring twice against the Jambos at Parkhead at the weekend.
It was the 26-year-old’s first start for the Bhoys since suffering a slight injury.
With Moussa Dembele out injured until September, there is a big responsibility on Griffiths to fire Celtic past Astana and reach the group stages of the Champions League.
And the man himself knows full well how important he is and therefore understands Rodgers’s decision to withdraw him after an hour against Hearts.
“The gaffer had spoken to me before Saturday’s game to explain just how important the next couple of matches are,” said Griffiths to the GET.
“I knew that he would take me off about 65 minutes or so because I am the only fit striker at the club and I understood that.”
Rodgers’s side host Kilmarnock in a second-round League Cup clash tomorrow, while their first-leg Champions League playoff with Astana comes on August 16.
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