RONNY DEILA last night praised the "perfect" Leigh Griffiths on a day when another Celtic striker's career at the club may have ended.

While Anthony Stokes looked on from the main stand having being dropped from the squad, something he ranted about on Twitter, the team's No.1 striker got his 19th goal of the season in a 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle to go seven points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

And Deila was quick to praise the one-time bad-boy of Scottish football who has changed his ways on and off the park.

The Norwegian was clearly thinking about Stokes as sang the praise of Griffiths whose attitude, it would seem, is in complete contrast to the ostracised Irishman.

Deila said: "Leigh is always 100 per cent in his attitude in training. Every day. His attitude to being a professional footballer is perfect.

"He loves playing football, he loves running, he loves scoring goals. He is also getting smarter and watching what he eats, how he lives outside the pitch as well.

"It is great to have a striker like that. He has scored so many goals for us, even in Europe, and different goals as well.

"He can get a goal from nothing and that gives everyone so much confidence."

Deila stopped short of saying there was no way back for Stokes, but it is almost impossible to see the 27-year-old not leaving the club in January.

Stokes, on Twitter, said: "Buzzing to be brought all the way up to Inverness with the team to sit in the stands today, lovely weather for it too,

"Who gives a monkey's about wages when you're not playing! It's about playing and contributing, not picking up a wage."

Most Celtic fans were not impressed and responding to a tweet suggesting he is happy to pick up his wages, Stokes said: "Obviously I am! You would too if you were doing double sessions every day, fit and ready to play."

Stokes took to social media later to apologise.

Deila has one reliable goalscorer and Griffiths, as always, delighted in finding the back of the net.

The Celtic boss said: "I love watching Leigh after be scores. I love players who just live to play football, who find the desire every day.

"It's not about money for them, it's about playing football - and that is Leigh Griffiths.

"I don't know how much he is worth now, but it would be a lot. We want to keep him at Celtic for a long time because he is a great player and a terrific guy.

"Leigh has been brilliant this season, he scores almost every game. Yes, he had some chances against Ajax, but every striker misses some chances.

"He worked hard, he has a good attitude and that is really what you can expect from every player every time. Ups and downs in performance will happen, but again he has bounced back today and I am happy for him and I am happy for the team.”

Deila was also pleased with Scott Allan who came on early in the second-half and played well.

He said: "Scott was very, very good. That is two times coming on now. What I am so happy about is when you have a good attitude in training, you work hard, you are loyal, you are very humble and want to learn, like Callum McGregor and with Scott Allan, you see they get payback time.

"That is what is so nice to see as a coach. Players who really want to understand and look into themselves instead of looking about at everybody else always get achievement.

"Those three have been unbelievably good examples of players who have been out and who worked themselves into things and show on the pitch that they want to play."