Davie Provan has laughed off the idea that Leigh Griffiths can still have a long-term future at Celtic Park.
Griffiths made a loan move to Dundee on transfer deadline day last week. However, he stated that his plan was to get himself back on form and return to Celtic a better player ahead of next year [STV].
Griffiths’ contract is up next summer after the Hoops extended it by a further year just a few months ago. Off-field issues, however, ruined his pre-season and damaged his reputation amongst supporters.
And even as he tries to prove himself at Dens Park this season, Provan isn’t having any talk of a renaissance. Instead, he believes regardless of what Griffiths does that his Parkhead career is finished.
Speaking in his Scottish Sun column, Provan said: “Leigh Griffiths reckons Neil Lennon keeps bad-mouthing him to remain relevant. Griff should worry more about his own relevance. The striker’s move to Dundee looks like the last act in the Griffiths soap opera.
“If the striker wouldn’t get himself fit for Celtic, what chance of him going the extra yard at Dens Park? He should ask himself why Ange Postecoglou has bombed him when Celtic are still a striker short.
“Delusional talk of an eventual Hoops return can be disregarded. Sadly, at just 31, the best finisher in the country is already in the elephants’ graveyard.”
Provan not wrong; Griffiths needs to take his eye off Celtic return
It’s clear Griffiths simply wasn’t favoured by Postecoglou. If the Celtic boss thought he was going to prove to be of any value, he’d have kept him in Glasgow. Allowing him to head to Tayside shows exactly where Ange believes he’s at.
Absolutely nothing about Griffiths’ situation suggests he’ll be back at the end of the campaign. We’re talking about a player into the final year of his contract. A player who’s now 31 and currently Celtic’s fourth-choice striker.
There’s no sign of Griffiths recapturing form of a level that would have Celtic itching to keep him here. Even if he went on to bag 20 goals for the Dee this season, it still wouldn’t change a thing.
The truth is that Celtic are evolving past Griffiths’ capabilities. We’re looking to operate at a level that’s effectively beyond what the Scotland international can produce.
He’ll hopefully get back on the goal trail this season, but all he’ll be doing is boosting his chances of offers elsewhere.
Talk of a Celtic return? It just doesn’t add up.
In other news, Bristol Rovers captain talks up Celtic move for Cameron Carter-Vickers
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