Former Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has begun training with his old club Livingston in a bid to get his fitness up. 

A move back to Almondvale has been completely ruled out by Livi gaffer David Martindale but he was happy to accommodate the former Scotland international.

“Leigh was just scunnered with football and I had a chat with him after we played Dundee,” said David Martindale speaking to the Scottish Sun. 

“I told him if there was anything I could do to help him he could give me a shout.

“If I can help anyone, not just Leigh, I will go out of my way to do that.

“I know he has had some trouble off the park, but everyone in football I have spoken to about Leigh said how good a guy he is.

“He’s worked so hard, he’s lost weight and body fat, and he’s been brilliant around the place.

“Leigh’s training well and is looking for a club, and we want to help him do that.

“I was open and honest with him and I told him there’s not a contract here.

“With Jack Hamilton going to Hartlepool on loan, I’m looking for a versatile player who can play along the front three.

“Leigh has options, but we were happy to help him use the club as he needs.

“I want him to get back to where he should be, as we all know how good a player he is, and he has to find that player again.

“Everyone has adversity at some point, and it is how you deal with it. Some people go under and some fight and rise above it.

“Leigh’s a great player, and what I have seen is that desire to go and do better.

“It would have been easy for him to down tools this summer, and come in here in bad shape, but that’s not the case.

“He has done a lot of hard work, and I’m here to help him with the final bit and get him a club.”

Since leaving Celtic last summer, Griffiths’ career has fallen off a cliff with disappointing spells at Dundee and Falkirk.

In the modern day, not many footballers end their careers at 31 years old which there was the possible danger of.

At this point, it speaks volumes of where Griffiths is at that his former side won’t offer him a deal meaning a return to the Scottish Premiership is most definitely off the cards.

It was most recently confirmed that Scottish League Two side Forfar Athletic decided against a deal for Griffiths with his future at a club not guaranteed.

He was extremely lucky to be given a year’s contract extension at Celtic last summer before the club decided against their decision and u-turned on it.

The striker who scored 123 goals during his time in the Hoops was released in January and nothing has gone right since.

It wasn’t even a year ago that Griffiths featured for Ange Postecoglou’s side in a pre-season friendly against West Ham United where he got booed by sections of the home support which was at the point you knew his time was up

 

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