HOOPS hat-trick hero Leigh Griffiths has been given the green light from Ronny Deila to prepare to unleash his goals on Europe next season.

The striker took his tally to 18 for the campaign with his second hat-trick in 11 days, this time to secure a 3-0 win for the league leaders at Tannadice.

That made it 25 goals in 50 appearances for the club he joined in January last year.

Deila confirmed he would be happy to let the 24-year-old lead the line in Europe next term, such has been the hitman's improvement over the past few months.

Griffiths wants to grab that chance, but knows he has to first help the Hoops clinch the title and the single qualifying spot for the Champions League.

That could happen this weekend, while they are sitting with their feet up at home - if the Parkhead club beat Dundee on Friday and Aberdeen drop points to Dundee United the following day.

However, even if they have to wait another week to clinch the title at Aberdeen, it will not concern Griffiths - just so long as they win it.

He said: "We would love to go up to Aberdeen and win up there.

"But it doesn't matter where we win it, so long as we do.

"Pittodrie is a difficult place to go, as was Dens Park in midweek. We had to dig in there, and we dug in again against Dundee United.

"Now we are looking forward to playing Dundee on Friday and, hopefully, getting the three points again."

Griffiths' finishing was the difference between United and the Hoops yesterday, and he is delighted to be three clear of John Guidetti in the race to finish as top scorer for the club.

"If I keep playing like this, I will, hopefully, hit the 20 mark," he said.

"If you had asked me at the turn of the year if I was going to be the top goal scorer with four games to go, I would have laughed at you.

"But it just shows how hard I have worked.

"I have changed the manager's mind about me as a player.

"I am reaping the rewards now, and so is he.

"Last season, I came in, scored a few goals and had a few assists, but I didn't get as many goals as I'd have liked.

"I missed a few chances. But now I am getting chances and putting them away."

His second-half hat-trick was rounded off from the spot after ref Willie Collum wrongly decided Gary Mackay-Stevens was in the box when brought down by John Rankin.

Griffiths was not concerned about another error by an official, and thanked regular penalty practitioner, Kris Commons, for allowing him the opportunity to take the spot kick.

He saw his penalty saved by Radoslaw Cierzniak when the club's drew 1-1 in the Scottish Cup last month, but made no mistake this time and said: "I've just heard it was outside the box.

"But, we were due a bit of luck after the semi-finals, so I will take it.

"When I told Kris I was on my hat-trick, he handed me the ball.

"He's good like that. He did it with Stokesy earlier in the season."