The Celtic hitman had an impact for Scotland in midweek, but it perhaps came too late.
Neil McCann has told Sky Sports that he believes Scotland manager Gordon Strachan will ultimately regret not starting Celtic’s Leigh Griffiths in Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat by Slovakia.
Strachan’s side lost 3-0 in Slovakia as two goals from Robert Mak either side of half time helped the hosts into a comfortable lead, before Adam Nemec sealed the win.
Steven Fletcher was given the nod to lead the line, but the Sheffield Wednesday striker looked to have had little effect on the night.
In contrast, the Celtic hitman, who scored 40 goals in all competitions for the Hoops last term, came on with 25 minutes to go – with Scotland already 2-0 behind – and he had an impact.
Although Griffiths failed to find the net, he did fashion a number of goalscoring opportunities and, had he started, maybe things might have been different.
That is the view of Sky Sports pundit McCann, who said afterwards that Strachan will regret not starting the Celtic marksman.
“I think Gordon will question himself,” he told Sky Sports.
“I didn’t think Chris Martin was outstanding against Lithuania and I felt Steven Fletcher was a bigger threat than him – but, for me, Leigh Griffiths is a bigger threat than both.
“That is one that Gordon with think back on and think ‘maybe I should have gone with him’.”
Scotland’s next World Cup qualifier comes away to England at Wembley next month, and surely Strachan must start Griffiths for that one.
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