Celtic Bhoys do well on international duty

You always worry when your top players go away on International duty. It can be the long distance traveling or it can be the little injuries they can pick up.

All in all though, this week has turned out well for our Bhoys with some stellar performances and a surprising goalscorer as well.

Six Celtic players featured for Scotland against Lithuania in Vilnius on Friday night. Carig Gordon, Kieran Tierney, Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest, Scott Brown and Leigh Griffiths all started for Gordon Strachan’s side and to be brutally honest, it didn’t half show. Scotland looked a completely different side with our Bhoys in the starting lineup.

One player that stood out in both of these matches for me was Stuart Armstrong.

Now with his contract saga behind him, it looks like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders and he’s back to his best. It look like another Duracell battery (other batteries are available) has been placed in him and his energy levels are through the roof.

Moving on to the Malta game and it was the same story. A 2-0 win in what was a training game really. So with Armstrong and Griffiths getting on the scoresheet and the other Bhoys playing well, the Scottish lads will come back feeling good about themselves.

Let’s just hope that the Griffiths calf scare is just that and nothing more serious with the Champions League fast approaching.

Mikael Lustig featured in both of Sweden’s game and with an assist and a goal to his name, the Swede will also be swaggering back into Lennoxtown happy with his weeks work.

Cristian Gamboa is another who’ll have a smile on his face in the Canteen.

Costa Rica surprisingly beat the USA 2-0 in New Jersey. The Costa Rican will just be glad of the game time as he now seems to be our third choice right back behind Lustig and Ralston these days.

Tom Rogic is one we may need to rest against Hamilton on Friday due to his round-the-world trip as per usual with Australia. But, with Armstrong playing so well, it may be time for the man with the best hair in Scottish Fitba to start.

Finally, Johnny Hayes looks likely to start on the bench for Ireland in their last game but it would be nice to see the utility man get some game time. If not, the experience being away with the Irish guys will certainly do him no harm.

Next: Roberts hardly lacks ambition in return to Celtic

We look forward to getting all the Bhoys back now and prepare for Hamilton on Friday night. It’s sure to be a tough one with that pitch, but Griffiths loves a goal or two against them. Let’s just hope he makes it.