Leigh Griffiths' Scotland absence explained as Celtic…

Leigh Griffiths' Scotland absence explained as Celtic star left out for Euro 2020 qualifiers

Steve Clarke will give Leigh Griffiths more time to re-establish himself at Celtic before handing the striker a Scotland recall.

The Hampden boss named his squad for crucial Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and Belgium on Tuesday but there was no place for the Hoops frontman.

Griffiths took an extended break from football in December 2018 to deal with personal issues but has returned to the fold at Parkhead this summer.

Record Sport told on Monday night how Celtic were to be consulted on the 29-year-old's inclusion, having appeared intermittently so far this term.

And now Clarke has admitted these ties have come too soon for Griffiths.

The Scotland manager said: "He was close. Listen, Leigh has got some fantastic attributes. I just look at him just now and he's come a long way in a short space of time after a very difficult spell in his life.

"And I feel we should just give him a little more time to settle into the role again at Celtic and get himself fully fit and firing. And a fully fit and firing, sharp Leigh Griffiths will always be good for us.

"But at the moment I just feel it's a little bit too early to push him."

Asked if had had consulted Celtic, Clarke said: "You speak to people about certain individual players to get a little bit of background but the decision is my decision. That's what I am paid for."