CELTIC midfielder Scott Allan has backed Leigh Griffiths to get over any lingering disappointment with his lack of international involvement this week by hitting the net against Aberdeen.

The striker was left on the bench at Hampden on Monday evening against the World Champions while he had to be content with a late cameo appearance the previous Friday during Scotland’s limp European Championship defeat to Georgia.

Allan, though, expects that if he is handed a starting berth at Pittodrie in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday afternoon that few would bet against him exorcising those demons with another league goal to add to his burgeoning tally.

“I don’t pick the team,” said Allan when asked if he was surprised at the omission of Griffiths from the Scotland starting XI. “Gordon Strachan picks the team and he picked a side he felt could go out and do a job.

“There was obviously some disappointment last Friday night with the performance against Georgia but we were a wee bit unlucky against Germany. We scored two goals against the World Champions but there are still two games to go.

“Leigh goes out with the same mindset every week – he just wants to get goals. That is what he is good at and I am sure that is what we’ll see him do again.”

Allan took in Scotland’s defeat to Germany from the Hampden stands. However, should things go according to plan, the versatile midfielder would expect to have a more inclusive role, particularly by the time the next World Cup qualifying campaign comes round.

To do so, though, will mean that Allan has to primarily make a name for himself at Celtic Park, something he accepts may require a little patience on his part.

The 23-year-old played the full game for Celtic’s under-20 side midweek, along with Nadir Ciftci and Anthony Stokes, as he sought 90 minutes of game time to facilitate a return to full match fitness – his last was the opening day of the Championship season when Hibs played Dumbarton – but it is his versatility that he hopes can open the door to Celtic’s first team for him.

“With the formation we play with three just behind the lone striker I could really play in any one of those positions, so it suits me that I can offer a couple of different roles if I am called upon,” he said.

“The manager has asked me to learn how the team work off the ball and going forward and I just want to blend into that.

“I need to be patient and wait for my chance to come.

“The manager will pick a team that he thinks is the right one to win the game and that will be the same for this weekend’s game against Aberdeen as well as the European games.

“I just have to work hard and see what happens. I have always known that I would have to be patient and work for my chance and if I get it then it is up to me to take it.”

The background to Allan’s move to Celtic last month has ensured that he has kept a relatively low profile in recent weeks.

The player has, sensibly, come off of Twitter – “It’s not worth the hassle of being on there and reading the abuse so I’ve avoided it,” – but he has insisted that while there has been a bit of hassle he has not been intimidated by it.

“There has been the odd one where things have been said but it has been nothing too bad,” he smiled. “To be fair, I knew I was going to get it.

“There has been a bit of banter but there has been no malice in it.”

While Allan had no part to play in Celtic’s Champions League exit, he shared the bitter disappointment of the Hoops squad as they failed to make it through to the group stages.

The parachute into the Europa League has placed Celtic in a relatively appealing group against Ajax, Fenerbahce and Molde and the player believes that further progression into the knock-out stages has to be the aspiration for Ronny Deila’s squad.

“I think we have to aim to get through the group,” he said. “Ajax and Fenerbahce are good teams and have been doing well so we know they will be hard games. We need some good results and get some confidence going into the European games and then we can see what happens.

“It was a real disappointment not to go through to the Champions League but there are some really good teams waiting on us now. Potentially there will be teams who fall out of the Champions League and go into the Europa League too and it is a competition we want to do well.”

Domestically, though, there is an argument to suggest that Celtic’s biggest challenge of the season will come against Derek McInnes’ side on Saturday.

The Dons ran Celtic close until the latter stages of the last campaign and Allan is confident that the Hoops can get the kind of result that underlines Celtic’s title credentials.

“We want to put a marker down,” he said.

“I have seen Aberdeen a few times last season and I thought they did very well. I know a few of their players and they have a good team.

“Hearts and Aberdeen have strengthened and have had a good start but we need to concentrate on ourselves and just look to build on what we have started.”

*Europa League packages remain on sale for Celtic's three home games against Ajax, Fenerbahce and Molde.