MARK McGhee believes Leigh Griffiths has given Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers a major selection headache with his spectacular late brace for Scotland against England.

Griffiths looked to have snatched a famous triumph for his country when he curled two long-range free-kicks beyond the clutches of Joe Hart in the Russia 2018 qualifier at Hampden nine days ago.

But the striker, who had failed to score in 12 previous international appearances, was left heartbroken when Harry Kane netted an equaliser in the third minute of injury time.

However, McGhee, the Scotland assistant, believes the 26-year-old, who he compared to Wales and Liverpool great Ian Rush, will have done his chances of starting up front for the Scottish champions no harm whatsoever.

“We had seen in the last game against Slovenia back in March, before he got injured and had to come off, that Leigh was playing well,” he said.

“He had that one under the bar that you thought he would maybe have scored. But, apart from that, he had already impressed.

“Like so many of the Celtic players this season under Brendan (Rodgers), he has developed a side of his game that many of us thought was missing a little bit. He is now linking up. He is doing a kind of Ian Rush. He is keeping the whole back four occupied. He was terrific.

“His two goals were world class. You have got to say that. Sometimes these phrases are used lightly, but there is no doubt in my mind that is how they should be described. The first free-kick was fantastic.

“To then produce it again was amazing. I am not evenly talking about technically, I am talking about psychologically and mentally. To have the composure and ability to step up again and put it in the other side and score again showed outstanding intelligence. I can’t sing his praises high enough.”

Griffiths was second choice striker behind Moussa Dembele for much of last season at Celtic - but McGhee believes that may change in the new campaign as a result of his England showing.

“One of the things he was doing in his performance was saying to Brendan: ‘Look, here I am, I am prepared to work the way you want me to work’,” he said.

“He has come on to that. I have seen him play for Celtic just off a striker and he is just not comfortable doing that. He wants to be up front himself, getting in behind people and threatening. He has evolved over the last season.”

Meanwhile, McGhee, the former Celtic striker, has admitted he can understand Brendan Rodgers’ decision to sign Republic of Ireland internationalist Jonny Hayes from Aberdeen in a £1.3 million deal this weekend.

“Apart from anything else, he will make Aberdeen less of a threat,” he said. “So there’s that. He is a different type from (James) Forrest of (Patrick) Roberts who they have lost.

"They needed somebody to come in and make up the numbers and help with the way that Brendan likes to swap it around a bit in those areas. He maintains the strength of the squad as much as anything given that they have lost Roberts.”

McGhee has claimed that Scotland can boost their hopes of reaching 2018 by beating Lithuania away in Vilnius in their next game in September - if they reproduce their display against England.

“You have still got to get to the next game and see who is available and what form they are in and all that,” he said.

“But it has put down a marker for them. They know what they are capable of. We have got to somehow engender the same determination in every game, like the Lithuanian game or the Malta game after that. "But we now have those two games and they are definitely winnable. If we were to win those then it changes the situation.”

Mark McGhee was speaking at the McDonald's and Scottish FA Community Football Day in Giffnock, encouraging youngsters to play football at a grassroots level and celebrating Quality Mark clubs in the area. For more information visit http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/betterplay.