The last time Celtic played Hamilton Accies on home soil, Leigh Griffiths bagged a hat-trick in an 8-1 demolition of the Lanarkshire side. How the little striker would lap up the same again tonight.

Of the many little revolutions that Brendan Rodgers has overseen this season at Lennoxtown, it is only the situation of Griffith that has raised any watching eyebrows.

Moussa Dembele’s form in the initial months of the campaign once he had taken an injured Griffiths’ place kept the Scotland striker benched but there were many who queried whether or not there would be a role for both players together.

All the indications are that there won’t. Rodgers’ favours a system that relies on wide players with one out and out striker and deploying both players would require a structural shift that seems unlikely.

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Dembele’s value appeared to shoot up with each passing week as the young Frenchman banged in the 17 goals of his Celtic career so far. He has, perhaps inevitably given the fact he is still only 20, gone off the boil somewhat since returning from international football last month and it could be that the stage is set for Griffiths to get a prolonged run.

Last season’s Player of the Year who netted 40 times in a struggling Celtic side, served a reminder at Firhill last week of just what he can offer with a fine goal and the player has insisted that while he has been benched he has lost none of his confidence.

“I would still fancy myself to get into double figures in the league this season,” said Griffiths. “I have had a wee start and a goal and I am desperate to kick on now but I know that the manager has a selection headache between myself and Moussa.

“My aim is to stay in the team and it is difficult. Moussa has been excellent since he went in early doors and you couldn’t fault him for anything but I’d like to think that I have reminded everyone that I am still here and I am still capable of doing a job.

“I have that number 9 jersey for a reason and it isn’t one that I will ever give up lightly.

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“I will never lose my self-belief. I think I will score goals for Celtic, no matter where I play. I think I have proved that over the seasons that I bring goals to the team. Of course I have been disappointed not to have played as much but I am ready to take any chances.”

Interestingly, Griffiths, with ten goals this season, has made a contribution although his exuberant celebration at Firhill suggested just how frustrating he has found recent months.

Whether his goal keeps him in line for a start against Accies this evening remains to be seen, but certainly the player is itching for the chance to show that he is capable of picking up where he left off.

“You want to give the manager a bit of food for thought,” said Griffiths. “He has two strikers here that I have shown they can both score goals and maybe it is still there somewhere that he can work the two of us together. I am 100%, fit, I am working really hard in training and I was pleased with my contribution last Friday night, with a couple of assists and a goal. But tonight is another night and obviously it is down to the manager to make that call.

“Hopefully a wee run is on the cards. I am chomping at the bit to play but I know that I have to take any chance that comes my way. I had the jersey at the start of the season and Moussa took it through scoring goals but it is up to me to show that I be relied upon to score goals.”

Griffiths has not had sat down with Rodgers to seek out an explanation for why he has been on the outside looking in nor has he voiced any frustrations about his situation.

Instead, he has knuckled down to trying to improve himself in training while maintaining a positive attitude.

As the first trophy of Rodgers’ regime was handed out at Hampden last month as Celtic claimed the Betfred Cup, Griffiths looked forlorn at times, standing with arms folded at the side of the pitch. Inevitably irked at the way it has panned out for him, he has nevertheless made the decision to knuckle down rather than chap any doors.

“The manager doesn’t need to explain anything to me,” said Griffiths. “I can see myself that Moussa has played well since he came in, so no-one has to pull me aside and explain why. It is just up to me to be as mature as possible about it and go about getting back into the team in the right.

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“I was disappointed not to feature as much as I would have liked in the Champions League. I was injured in the early stages and then Moussa was on fire for a while.

“I know how the game works. If the shoe was on the opposite foot and I’d got my chance when he was injured, I would have expected to stay in as well. That is what it is all about.

“I just hope that I have reminded everyone of what I have got and what I bring. There are a good few games between now and New Year before we down tools for a bit, so it would be perfect to get some game time under my belt now.”

Time will tell.