Former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie believes Nadir Ciftci and Leigh Griffiths in tandem could wreck havoc on opposing teams this season – just as he and Andy Walker did in Celtic’s centenary season.

Griffiths was overlooked for a start against Iceland champions FC Stjarnan last Wednesday night as Ciftci took the jersey for Celtic’s second round Uefa Champions League qualifier.

However, the forward showed his unwillingness to relinquish the striker’s role with a hat-trick against Eibar on Saturday evening in a friendly to mark the La Liga side’s 75th anniversary.

Ronny Deila’s preference is for one lone striker, but McAvennie believes that if he were to go with two up top, even domestically, there would be a considerable return.

McAvennie and Walker scored 47 goals between them when Billy McNeill’s side won a League and Scottish Cup double back in 1988 – Walker was top scorer with 32 and McAvennie chipped in with 15.

And he believes that Ciftci and Griffiths are a similar pairing.

“It is clear that Ronny, like a lot of modern managers, prefers to go with just the one out-and-out forward, but I don’t have any doubt that if he played these two together that they would very quickly be banging in the goals for fun,” he said.

“I can understand some reluctance to go with two up top in Europe because you can’t afford to get picked off too easily, but in the domestic game Celtic have the upper hand and could comfortably cope with these two playing together.

“They remind me so much of myself and Andy. You have Ciftci who is capable of holding the ball up and physically I think he is an absolute handful for any defender. He doesn’t give them a minute’s peace.

“But then you have Leigh who is quick and nimble and his movement is good. He is always going to get in behind a defence and in my mind they would both score a lot of goals.

“I like both of them. They are both quality goalscorers and I do think that good players can establish a partnership very quickly, if they are given the games to do so.”

As it is, Griffiths’ display in Spain this weekend has given Deila food for thought.

Ciftci was rested for the game with Griffiths one of only four players who featured for the full 90 minutes.

And McAvennie would not be overly surprised if it is the Scot who is handed the job of finishing off FC Stjarnan on Wednesday night – but Ciftci who may well keep the jersey should Celtic make it all the way to the Champions League group stage.

“I think Ciftci has come in and shown that he something right away but he is not fit yet,” declared McAvennie.

“He definitely needs some games just to get that wee bit of sharpness.

“I think it could well be Leigh who gets the nod for Wednesday night but should they make it through the qualifiers then I think it might by Ciftci who is the main striker.

“The reasoning for that would be that physically he can make life very difficult for defenders. Leigh is clever with his movement and he is a good striker but Ciftci is a real physical presence up front.

“Like I say, if I was in there I’d have the two of them playing together, but I don’t think that is going to happen, especially in Europe.”

Should Celtic prevail against the Icelandic champions this week, a tie against either Qarabag or Rudar Plevlja awaits, with both games representing something of a step into the unknown.

Getting through that would mean one final qualifier to make it into the hallowed ground of the group stage.

And McAvennie believes that even if Celtic do not add to their squad over the next few weeks that they still have the quality necessary to make it into such esteemed company.

“I have a lot of faith in the manager,” he said. “He recovered from a difficult few months in his early stage of the job but I think he has shown that he is a real thinker about football and the team has played some decent football.

“But he will know himself that where he will be judged is in Europe and what he can do with Celtic. He will have spent months planning these games.

“I know he said that he wouldn’t be giving any thought to the next round until this game on Wednesday was taken care of and he is absolutely right to say that.

"But Celtic will get through and I think they have every chance of going into the competition proper.”

Much may depend on the situation of Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutch defender has publicly spoken of his desire to head to the Premiership this summer, while Celtic have been adamant that he is going nowhere.

And McAvennie has echoed Deila by insisting that one more season at Parkhead could help him land a bigger move 12 months down the line.

“He has the potential to go to one of the top 10 Premiership sides,but he still has a few rough edges,” he said. “The best thing he could do is have a strong season with Celtic – especially if that involves showcasing himself in European football.

“If he goes now I suspect it would be to a team fighting relegation and I think he can do better than that.”