Celtic manager Neil Lennon has provided an update on striker Leigh Griffiths’ situation after yet another absence.
Griffiths has now missed the opening two matches of the domestic season against Hamilton and Kilmarnock respectively. That’s despite the fact that Celtic’s number nine featured in a friendly against Hibernian just days before the competitive action began.
Missing yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Rugby Park added fuel to the fire after reports emerged that the player was given another warning by the club after hosting a party during lockdown (Sky Sports).
However, speaking in comments published by the Scottish Sun yesterday, Lennon moved to cool any idea that the striker was in big bother.
“The club are doing an ongoing investigation. I’m not convinced it’s a big issue. Hopefully it’ll be resolved in the next couple of days. He has a calf strain so he would’ve missed the game anyway.”
Griffiths could’ve been used yesterday
It appears that Lennon isn’t as comfortable using the 3-5-2 without a fully-fit Griffiths at his disposal. He did throw on Patryk Klimala for the final half-hour or so against Killie, but you wonder whether the Celtic manager would’ve started the game with that formation had Griffiths begun the season well.
As Lennon stated, of course, the Scotland international is still carrying a knock in any case. Even if the club wasn’t carrying out an investigation on him, he still wouldn’t have been available.
As for the lockdown party situation, it’s clumsy from Griffiths. It casts a spotlight on him that we don’t need, especially after the situation involving the eight Aberdeen players who caused their game with St Johnstone to be postponed (Sky Sports).
But Lennon doesn’t believe it’s much of an issue regardless. Therefore, hopefully the findings of any investigation aren’t damaging and we can move on swiftly enough from this nonsense.
At the end of the day, we need Griffiths focused on his football. He could’ve been the difference-maker yesterday had he been ready to play.
Instead, we’ve dropped two points in the title-race in a frustrating development for the Scottish champions. Hopefully, Griffiths can return as quickly as possible to help ensure this doesn’t happen regularly.
In other news, KR Reykjavik manager Runar Kristinsson once claimed Celtic shouldn’t have to compete in early-season qualifiers.
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