THERE are times when writing up a press conference requires more than merely reporting what the interviewee said. Further translation is required on occasion.

The conversation with Brendan Rodgers yesterday drifted towards the topic of Leigh Griffiths. The Celtic manager spoke, hardly for the first time, about how a modern striker is not just a goal-scorer because what he does off the ball and when not actually trying to score is of equal importance.

And that the top players graft every day to ensure they are the best they can be at all aspects of being a centre-forward.

Rodgers was asked, and this is a perfectly legitimate question, whether Griffiths does that enough of the time.

“That’s none of your business, really. You just need to judge him on the pitch when he plays. You don’t need to ask me that.”

For a man who has answered almost every one of the ten million questions put to him while Celtic manager in as open a manner as any newspaper man could wish for, this was not like him, Although he was hardly annoyed or angry.

And this is where the added explanation, or translation if you will, comes in.

What Rodgers meant was: ‘Of course he doesn’t do it enough. Don’t be so stupid. That’s why we keep having this conversation.’

Griffiths is now 28, with 100 goals for Celtic to his name, 215 in a fine career and his assists must be close to three figures. He’s also twice been voted player of the year by the Scottish football writers and please believe me it’s not because he’s great copy.

That is not bad at all but it’s also not enough.

For over two years now, Rodgers has been at his number nine to add more to his overall game, to be more professional, to watch how the very best operate and copy them. The message hasn’t got all the way through.

The Celtic manager likes Griffiths. That is why he was offered a new four-and-a-half year deal. But there is a frustration that such a talent lets himself down by not doing everything his gaffer tells him.

It is why Odsonne Edouard will start against Rosenborg tonight with Griffiths once again on the bench for a big game.

Rodgers said: “Like every player, Leigh knows his qualities but he has to, at this stage of his career, work tirelessly at all aspects of his game. In the modern game, where we are now, the strikers are changing.

“If you look at the evolution of strikers, it is not just about scoring goals any more. You have to do more than that.

“Strikers are now running, dropping deep, pressing from behind, working, so there is no other way you can take that out other than on the training field and work even harder. When opportunities are there then you come and take them.

“Listen, you’re always learning. You shouldn’t think that at 28 and you’re a senior professional that you stop learning. Every day you’re learning, whether you’re 32, 35.

“But the game’s changing every year. The game gets quicker, gets faster. As long as you’re doing your best - that’s all I always say to the players - as long as you’re preparing yourself the very best you can, training hard, that is all you can do. It’s up to me then to pick the team.

“When you sign your deal you sign a training contract. You sign to train the very hardest you possibly can. Prepare yourself physically and mentally the very best you can. And then I’ll pick the team. That’s all we’ve ever asked of the players.”

Griffiths enjoys being written off but then surely questions should be asked if a player is written off three of four times.

And when asked about his player’s ability to come back from adversity, Rodgers said: “I think it’s something that, if you operate at the top clubs, you have to be able to. If you don’t then you’ll sink. It’s as simple as that.

“With the big clubs you’re always going to be challenged. You can never think you are the number one striker. No, you always have to think you’re being pushed and challenged. That’s the way it is.

“Big clubs will always have options, you always have to fight to prove yourself every day in training and in every game.

“And if you don’t, and you drop off a level, whatever your fitness or preparation, then there’s always someone else. But I think what Leigh has done, and what he’s shown, is that he’s the ability to score goals.

“What he has to keep doing is keep working, keep fighting, so those opportunities come. That he’s fit and ready to take them.”

None of this could be described as subtle.

Griffiths is at the best club with the perfect manager for him. All he need do is allow the penny to drop and he would move up several levels.

It would be a shame of a good career did not become a great one because he couldn’t take a hint.