LEIGH GRIFFITHS has vowed to be fighting fit for Celtic’s Champions League qualifying crusade – despite facing a prolonged finish to the current season.

While the Parkhead hitman will play his last game this term for the Hoops tonight away to St Johnstone – he is suspended for Sunday’s finale against Motherwell – he is potentially facing a trip away with Scotland as Gordon Strachan’s side get ready for two friendly fixtures.

Firstly they take on Italy in Malta on May 29 before they travel to Metz for a tie with Euro 2016 hosts France on June 4.

It would mean Griffiths and the rest of the Celtic contingent away with the national team face just three weeks of a close season before they report back to Lennoxtown for pre-season training on June 24.

However, while the downtime may be small, the man who is a goal away from hitting 40 for the season has reassured the Celtic support that he’ll be recharged and ready to go when the club’s new manager starts their European bid in early July.

“I’m still available. The games we have coming up are interesting against top-class opposition,” said Griffiths. “Both are going to the Euros.

“If I am selected, I will be delighted, but if the manager phones and says that I have to rest, then I’ll have no qualms about that.

“I’ll go away, enjoy my break, keep on top of my fitness and coming back raring to go for the new season.

“France and Italy are top-class opposition and you want to go and prove yourself against the best.

“They are two top nations and it’ll be a good test for us going into the qualifying campaign in September.

“It’s flip of a coin. You want to put in as many good performances as you can and score as many goals as you can, but, at the same time, you need a rest for the new season up.

“At Celtic, you don’t get as much rest as other teams with the European campaign coming up.

“But you want to stay on top of your fitness.

“The Scotland games finish on June 4 and we’re back at Celtic on June 24 or 25, so it’s maybe three weeks.

“That’s time to recharge your batteries, enjoy your break and return ready.”

Griffiths was speaking ahead of tonight’s game at McDiarmid Park and after just being named the Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year.

It has been a stunning year for the former Hibs man, who, just 18 months ago, seemed shunned from Ronny Deila’s plans.

Without doubt the most prolific striker in Scotland, Griffiths insists there is still more to come.

“Of course I can get better,” said the 25-year-old. “I’m still working hard in training on my movement, my first touch, my link-up play. Everything can improve. Hopefully next season you will see a better me.

“Getting to 40 goals would be the perfect way to round-off the club season.

“I’m disappointed that I’m suspended for the Motherwell game on Sunday, but I have one more game to hit that mark and I hope it comes against St Johnstone.”