Cascarino calls for Ciftci chance alongside Griffiths

Former Celtic striker Tony Cascarino has called for Ronny Deila to give Nadir Ciftci a more permanent role up front for the Hoops.

Cascarino, who struggled to find the net as a Celtic player, scoring just eight goals in forty league appearances, sympathises with the Turkish frontman and wants to see him get more regular playing time.

The 23-year-old has four goals this season – with two of those coming at the weekend against St Johnstone. He started the game thanks to the absence of Leigh Griffiths, who has been in fine form this season but missed out with a calf injury.

Speaking to the Daily Record, Cascarino said:

If you are not playing it’s hard to be at your best and that has clearly been the case with Ciftci.

Sometimes it takes a player to get injured to give you the opportunity but it’s tough, especially with so many managers playing with one up.

To tackle the problems of Deila playing with ‘one up [front]’ and allow Ciftci to score more regularly, Cascarino wants the Turkish striker to play alongside Griffiths up top.

Celtic should be playing with two up front against the majority of teams in the Scottish Premiership.

They are the strongest side and there should surely be room to go in that direction, even now and again, which would let Griffiths and Ciftci play.

Ciftci’s next opportunity to find the back of the net under Deila will no doubt come against Motherwell on Saturday – a side who have conceded twenty-four league goals this season.