Scotland assistant manager Mark McGhee believes Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths could be the man to fire Newcastle to safety this season.
Griffiths was heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park during the summer, and McGhee believes the Scotland international has more than enough to cut it amongst England’s best.
“A year to 18 months ago if someone down the road had said to me ‘could Leigh Griffiths do well in the Championship?’ I’d have said ‘He is a finisher. In the right team then probably.’’ said McGhee speaking in the Evening Times.
“Now if someone asked if he could do well in the Premier League I’d not hesitate. His all-round game has improved so much.
“Remember I watch these games all the time. Last week I was at Brighton against Newcastle and Leigh could have played in either of those teams. Absolutely no danger.”
Griffiths has scored 95 goals in 157 appearances for the Scottish Champions, and has already found the net seven times after establishing himself as the clubs main striker once again amidst injury problems with team-mate Moussa Dembele.
“In his Champions League games with Celtic more and more people will see it and more and more attention will come from it.
“It’s not for the last four years he has been doing this. He’s improved over the last year to 18 months. Therefore he needs to sustain that and I’m sure then Celtic will be batting away approaches for him.”
