LEIGH GRIFFITHS has opened up about his start to the season and branded himself a disgrace for not being fitter when he got the call to return to Lennoxtown.
The striker was left out of a pre-season tour to France because of his lack of fitness and the weight he’d put on during lockdown.
It’s only in the last run of games where Neil Lennon has been comfortable playing Leigh from the start.
The Celtic striker told the Glasgow Times he was slaughtered for his lack of fitness by the coaching staff when he came back and has done everything in his power to change things since.
“It is night and day [from the start of the season],” he said. “I think the manager would say that as well. I let myself down. I let everybody down. But I’m trying to repay them bit by bit by helping the team, scoring goals and getting the team three points.
“I had to take a long hard look at myself because I was a disgrace when I came back.
“Well, when I say a disgrace, I wasn’t because when I left in March and came back I was only 2.5kg over what I was before but I wasn’t as fit as I should have been. That’s down to me and my professionalism. I take that on the chin. I’ve been slaughtered for that publicly and in-house.
“I took it on the chin, went away and worked extremely hard. Then I had a couple of injuries.
“Dubai gave me a chance to get fitter. I know the gaffer came out and said that I was not match fit or not as fit as I could be. I think you’ve seen over a number of games that I’ve played that I’ve ran my heart out and it shows I’m fit enough to start games.”
Leigh has been back in the side and positively contributing to things. It does look like it’s too late in the day at this point. The bhoys are 22 points behind in the league and look like they’ll miss out on the title this season.
There’s likely going to be upheaval at the start of next season, Leigh could be pivotal on the transition as we see the likes of Edouard leave.
This season has to be salvaged as much as possible before that.
