Leigh Griffiths has been a great asset for Celtic FC ever since he joined the club from Wolves back in 2014 but the player has had his share of problems this season.
The 29-year-old has played in only three Premiership games for the Hoops during the current season but fans are hopeful the manager will give him time to make a comeback and reclaim his position in the first XI.
Leigh Griffiths was on the bench for Celtic’s 4-0 win vs Livingston this weekend which is a sign that he could be in be amongst the thick of things during the Old Firm Derby next month.
But according to pundit Chris Sutton, Leigh Griffiths might have been a great servant the club but with Rangers breathing down the neck of Celtic, Neil Lennon will not be able to give the striker the luxury of settling down into the first XI.
Chris Sutton wrote for the Daily Record: “It would be great to think Neil Lennon could pitch him in against Rangers at Hampden and know that the striker is back to his best.
“The reality is different, though, and Griffiths has only played eight games during those 12 months since he came on for the final 22 minutes of a 5-1 home win over Kilmarnock on December 8 last year.
“And his last appearance lasted for just 12 minutes, coming on as a sub in a 3-1 win over Hearts at Parkhead at the end of August. Griffiths showed he still knows where the net is after scoring a double in a run-out for the reserves as they beat Stenhousemuir 6-0 at Lennoxtown in midweek.
“His well-being is more important than a game of football, we need to be clear on that.
“He has been through a lot and we want to see him coming back strongly and banging in goals for Celtic because if he gets back to that level then it would be like a £20million signing.
“Griffiths will want to get back playing at a high level but there are question marks over whether he can and it’s not unreasonable to say that. And Lennon has to be ruthless in that respect which I’m sure everyone can understand. If you ask the gaffer straight, he’d like Griffiths back playing regularly and helping the team to honours at the end of the season.
“But Lennon has to think about the challenge from across the city, he has to think about the Europa League where Celtic have got themselves into a fantastic position.
“Lenny can’t nurture Griff back and give him a month or two to bed himself in. In previous seasons when Celtic have been so far ahead, then maybe – but it isn’t like that now.
“We understand the gaffer’s position in this because Leigh is a Celtic cult hero and has scored some phenomenal goals but at a professional level, you can’t necessarily think of the past – only the present and the future.”
