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Olivier Ntcham disappointed to lose Celtic team-mate Leigh Griffiths to injury

Leigh Griffiths (L), of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game with team mate Oliver Ntcham during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiersh...
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Celtic hitman Leigh Griffiths suffered a calf injury to put a downer on his match-winning display against Hibs.

Leigh Griffiths of Celtic is seen during a training session at Lennoxtown on December 29, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Olivier Ntcham has admitted to The Scottish Herald that losing Leigh Griffiths to injury is a big blow for Celtic, but believes that Brendan Rodgers’s side can weather the storm.

Griffiths was the hero on Saturday as his goal was enough to see Celtic beat Hibernian 1-0 at Parkhead, but the win was soured by injuries to both him and goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

The Hoops boss confirmed afterwards that the Scottish striker has a calf problem and might not be fit for the visit of Zenit in the first leg of a last-32 Europa League tie in Glasgow on February 15.

Leigh Griffiths of Celtic is congratulated by manager Brendan Rodgers as he is substituted during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers FC and Celtic FC at Ibrox Stadium...

The 27-year-old’s importance to Celtic has been obvious over the past week, having also scored the winner in last Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Partick Thistle after coming off the bench.

And although Ntcham, a £4.5 million summer signing from Manchester City, concedes that losing him is a blow, the Frenchman hopes that his compatriots Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard can minimise the damge of being without Griffiths.

Leigh Griffiths of Celtic celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on September 23, 2017 in...

“I am disappointed for Leigh because when he came on in the last game he scored and then he scored again on Saturday. It is disappointing to lose him again now,” he told The Herald.

“But I think we have a good squad. If Leigh is injured we are a little bit disappointed, but Moussa and Edouard can come in and lead the line. It is good for us.”