CHRIS SUTTON admits he has been stunned by Gordon Strachan’s refusal to give Leigh Griffiths, the Celtic striker, a greater opportunity at international level.

Griffiths took his season’s tally to 18 goals at the weekend with a brace in his club’s 4-1 victory at Ross County in the Ladbrokes Premiership and appears to have held off the challenge of summer signing Nadir Ciftci for a starting jersey.

Strachan, however, remains unconvinced. Griffiths’ competitive involvement during the failed Euro 2016 qualifying campaign was restricted to 15 minutes as a substitute in the costly 1-0 loss to Georgia in Tbilisi and he has been given just five caps in total by the national coach.

Sutton, who played for Celtic between 2000 and 2006 and won three league titles, is a supporter of the 25-year-old centre forward and clearly believes he is capable of providing goals when required for the national team as Strachan slowly sets his sights on the next World Cup.

“I like him,” said Sutton. “I have liked him for a long time.

“It has surprised me that he hasn’t been included in the Scotland starting 11.

“I know Gordon has his own decisions to make, but he is a goalscorer.

“I like the way he works for the team and he is a finisher. Celtic have to find a way to get him chances and I am sure he will score the goals if they come.”

Strachan has, of course, built his side around the Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher due to an admiration for his link-up play and positional sense.

Sutton feels, however, that there were certain matches in which Griffiths’ natural nose for goal should perhaps have been utilised.

“It is up to Gordon to pick who he sees fit,” said Sutton. “At the end of the day, he is judged on results, but there certainly have been times throughout the campaign where he could have given Griffiths more of a run-out.”