Celtic manager Neil Lennon is hoping to arrange a bounce game for striker Leigh Griffiths, so he can begin to find match fitness and close in on a first-team comeback, The Daily Record reports.
Griffiths hasn’t played for the Bhoys since 7th March when he scored a hat-trick against St Mirren at Celtic Park.
Missing pre-season training and the club’s trip to France, the Scotland international has been on the fringes for a long time now.
However, with an injury ruling out Albian Ajeti for a few weeks, the manager may feel he needs Griffiths sooner rather than later.
The paper report that a game had been arranged with St Mirren this week to help the player, but the Paisley outfit had to pull out because of injuries.
Now the club are searching for alternatives.
It comes as former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has backed the player to be an essential player for the champions still.
Strachan, who worked with Griffiths in the Scotland team, told The Daily Record: “Whatever goes on in the world of Leigh Griffiths I still think he is a terrific player. Seriously.
“I still go back to the wonderful football Celtic were playing after Christmas when he was a threat. No matter where Edouard was, you always knew Griff would be on the shoulder of defenders looking for balls coming across the box.
“He’s grease lightning over 10 yards. So it’ll be great for Celtic to get Griff back in the mix along with Edouard, Ajeti and Patryk Klimala. That’s four good strikers to pick from.”
Strachan is right; the 30-year-old was outstanding at the start of 2020.
He scored eight goals in 13 matches between January and March, rolling back the years to his prolific campaigns of the past.
There’s no doubt that a fit and motivated Griffiths can still be a massive asset for Celtic and hopefully Lennon can help reach his peak once again.
The sooner closed door or bounce games are arranged at Lennoxtown, or elsewhere, the better.
It’d be great to see him bang in the goals for Celtic.
In other news, fans are delighted by the club’s big Tuesday streaming announcement.
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