Celtic loanee Leigh Griffiths has been urged to improve if the second half of the season he he’s allowed to remain at Dens Park.
Talks between Celtic and Dundee roll on regarding whether he will stay in the City of Discovery for the remainder of the campaign [The Courier]. The Hoops are unlikely to want him back, whilst his efforts on loan so far have proved disappointing.
Indeed, in what needed to be a big season from him, Griffiths has only netted 2 goals in 14 appearances for his loan club this term. Hardly the kind of form that will have clubs itching to sign him up for next season.
And former Dundee favourite Lee Wilkie has labelled it a “delicate situation” as he stated the Dees should keep him on in the hope he improves. As quoted by the Courier, Wilkie said: “This past week’s tug-of-war between Dundee and Celtic over Leigh Griffiths has not been a good situation for anybody involved. Particularly the player.
“However it all ends, I just hope Dundee come out of it all in a better situation than they were a month ago. If they’ve sorted out a better deal and can use some of the money freed up to bring in other players then great. If Griffiths heads back to Celtic, it’s not great for him, but the Dark Blues will free up some budget.
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“Because the loan hasn’t worked out like everyone hoped. We don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but it can’t be good for the player. If I was a coach at Dens, I’d still be holding out hope Griffiths can get his head right and come good this season. And then what happens if he remains at Dens? How is that all going to impact his ability to perform? It is a delicate situation.”
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Leigh Griffiths has no Celtic future, but do Dundee even want to keep him?
It’s clear regardless of what happens from here on in, Leigh Griffiths’ Celtic career is over. That much was made perfectly clear by Ange Postecoglou when he shipped him out to Dens Park in the first place.
However, I don’t know about you, but I expected some form of renaissance from him this season. The move to Dundee looked like being the best thing that could’ve happened to his career. You easily seen him banging in 10 to 15 goals if the service was right. But it’s incredible just how shockingly bad it’s gone.
Granted, Dundee are hardly having a brilliant season all-round. James McPake, a friend of Griffiths, sees his side sit second bottom and only 2 points clear of St Johnstone.
Yet it says a lot that there are even discussions to be had here. Dundee have a major striker shortage at the moment with Cillian Sheridan injured and Jason Cummings struggling. The fact even then they’re considering whether Griffiths has value to them should tell you a story.
He absolutely needs these next 5 months of his career to be all about goals. Getting into double figures before the season is out, for example, should be his next target. That’s the only way he’s going to have any interest in him when he becomes a free agent in the summer.
It’s hugely disappointing how all of this has gone, both on the pitch and off it. Griffiths is done at Celtic, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have prospects elsewhere. It’s still down to him to make sure that’s the case come the summer.
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