Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has told Dedryck Boyata that his situation will not be allowed to overshadow the build-up to Thursday night’s Europa League qualifier against Suduva.

Brendan Rodgers has opened the door to a return to the first-team after Boyata's behaviour last week but Griffiths has warned that the pantomime will not be allowed to detract from the preparations for the qualifying game.

The Belgian defender has been embroiled in a stand-off with the club after Rodgers publicly insisted he was fit while the out of contract defender claimed that he was not.

The exchange came on the back of a blocked move to Fulham but having got round the table with Boyata’s representatives at the end last week, Rodgers is set to open the door again to Boyata despite the fact that there is a pervasive feeling he let the team down by not turning up for their Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens last week.

Griffiths, though, has maintained that it is all about the game and not about Boyata.

“The badge on the front is bigger than the name on the back,” said Griffiths.

“It can’t be a distraction for us. We have a big tie to get through and that is what our focus has to be on now.

“Dedryck has said stuff, the manager has said stuff but as players all we can do is concentrate on winning games. That is what we are here for.

“We have to let the manager deal with it. It has been a difficult one for him. But he will deal with it the best way he can. It is not about one individual, it is about the club.

“It is what it is. The manager has taken stock and we’ll see what happens next. But if he is back training or back playing then we will get on with it.”

Celtic moved into the quarter-finals of the BetFred League Cup on Saturday with a relatively comfortable 3-1 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The result was vital not only to preserve the possibility of Celtic sustaining their grip on domestic football but also to get back to winning ways after the turbulence of the Champions League exit and the public nature of the discord between Rodgers and the Parkhead board.

“I have had difficult times at the club before, especially under Ronny [Deila] towards the end of his time,” said Griffiths. “There has been a lot of talk about who said what or done what but I think as players it is our responsibility to go and do our talking on the park. It has been difficult. No-one likes losing games.

“It has been difficult. We’ve not had this situation since the manager has arrived that we have games back-to-back.

“it was important that we got through and we done that. There were things we could have done better in the game but the main thing is that we get the result and it gives us a lift ahead of Thursday’s game.”