BRENDAN Rodgers has confirmed Leigh Griffiths is highly unlikely to be fit for Scotland’s UEFA Nations League double-header next month and hinted that it could be some time before the striker is seen again in Celtic colours.

The national team travel to Albania and then face Israel at Hampden at the end of November and will be without first choice frontman Steven Naismith, the Hearts man has been sidelined until Christmas with a knee injury picked up in Sunday’s League Cup semi-final.

Alex McLeish, the Scotland manager, was ready to offer Griffiths an olive branch following the 28-year-old’s decision to drop out of the last squad to ‘concentrate on his fitness’ given he will be without Naismith.

But the Celtic man is once again absent from the first-team at his club, which is becoming a common occurrence. He last played on October 7 at St Johnstone.

Rodgers last week dismissed social media rumours Griffiths has gone AWOL but it is clear he has been less than impressed with a player who was handed an extended contract this season.

The Celtic manager has only one fit senior striker, Odsonne Edouard, but yesterday did not give off the impression of someone who was overly concerned about the fitness of a player with over 100 Celtic goals to his name.

Asked whether Griffiths would be available should McLeish come calling, Rodgers said: “I’m not sure. That will depend on Leigh, how quickly he responds to treatment and how hard he works to get fit.

“He’s getting better and his calf injury is coming towards its end. He’s not on the playing field yet but he’s working with the medical team and the sports science team to get as it as he possibly can.

“However, if he is fit for that period he certainly won’t be match fit. I feel for Steven Naismith, because he’s made a great start to the season and done really well for Scotland.

“I spoke to Alex McLeish at a function last week and we had a good chat among things and I’m sure he’ll have spoken to Leigh. But we have 10 players out injured at the moment and they’re all working hard to get back as quickly as possible.”