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James McFadden has his say on Celtic’s number one striker

Francino Francis of Tamworth competes with James McFadden of Everton during the FA Cup Third Round match between Everton and Tamworth at Goodison P...
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The former Everton man believes Brendan Rodgers should be picking his compatriot Leigh Griffiths to start up top.

Mark McGhee Manager of Motherwell (Left) with newly appointed assistant player manager James McFadden during the pre match warm up before the BETFRED Cup First Round Group F Match between...

Former Scotland and Everton legend James McFadden, 34, has joined the Celtic striker debate and had his say on who he believes should be starting up top for the Hoops.

Both Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele have been at the centre of the rumour mill for most of January, with the latter having been dropped to the bench for both games so far after the winter break.

Griffiths proved his worth once again, coming off the bench against Partick Thistle earlier this week to net the crucial winner, taking his season tally to 11.

Moussa Dembele of Celtic celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Leigh Griffiths of Celtic during the Betfred Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on...

Speaking to Open Goal’s Right in the Coupon, McFadden said: “The biggest issue for me anyway is that I’d play Leigh Griffiths. He’d be my number one.

“Maybe that is Brendan Rodgers’ thoughts as well.”

McFadden, currently a free agent, was speaking with regards to Rodgers’ decision to bench his French forward being a genuine selection choice as opposed to one due to unsettling transfer rumours.

When asked about how transfer speculation affects players from his own experience McFadden said that, if young, it should not affect you too much. In fact, it should spur a player on to justify people’s interest in them.

Richard Tait of Tamworth competes with James McFadden of Everton during the FA Cup Third Round match between Everton and Tamworth at Goodison Park on January 7, 2012 in Liverpool, England.

“Not really,” he said when asked if speculation should be affecting Dembele.

“When you’re young especially, you welcome the attention, you want people to want to buy you.

“(It) doesn’t mean you want to leave, but you want to go and justify the fact that teams are interested in you and want to buy you.”