LEIGH GRIFFITHS couldn't wait to stake his claim for a starting place against Inter Milan.

But having hit the net after just 35 seconds of Saturday's win over St Johnstone, the little striker now faces the agonising wait to see if he will get the nod ahead of John Guidetti for Thursday's sold-out glamour tie.

The Swede reclaimed his place last midweek when an ankle injury picked up in training prevented Griffiths playing against Partick Thistle.

But recovered and re-instated at the weekend, Griffiths picked up where he left off in the previous weekend's Scottish Cup win at Dundee with another goal.

Compared to the drought which Guidetti has been enduring since November, this streak of three goals in three games - taking his tally for the season to eight - has made Griffiths look like the ideal man to lead the line when Roberto Mancini's side come to town.

But, having missed so many big European games since he arrived from Wolves a year ago, the 24 year-old is taking nothing for granted.

Griffiths said: "The manager had a difficult decision to make with me coming back in or John (Guidetti).

"But he struck with me, and I managed to repay him within 45 seconds, so I'm happy.

"Inter Milan are a massive name in football, and it's going to be a great game.

"There will be a full Celtic Park, and I have never experienced that yet. So I'm looking forward to it."

Griffiths knew the importance of keeping their winning run going ahead of the Europa League Last 32 first leg.

And, despite seeing their clean sheet run come to an end at McDiarmid Park after Stefan Johansen had fired the Hoops 2-0 up early in the second half, he reckons it was another job well done by Deila's Bhoys.

"We deserved the three points, given the overall performance," he told Celtic TV.

"The last 20 minutes were a bit scrappy, but you have to win games like that.

"It's great to get an early goal, but I was just happy to get back in the team, involved and scoring goals."