Neil Lennon Confirms Striker Status After Loan Talk

NEIL LENNON was asked a very silly question on Friday before the Livingston game about Leigh Griffiths potentially going out on-loan in January to get game time but the Irishman moved quickly to dismiss it.

The Celtic manager gave a pretty detailed up-to-date state of play when it came to his striker. Leigh came back into the squad in June after being out since last November with off the field issues. He got fit and among the goals but after a brief period back in the side he fell away and frustratingly suffered an injury, then a virus.

The player is trying to get back up to speed for the second time this season and Neil believes it will be sooner rather than later before the striker is back fit and firing again.

“Leigh won’t go on loan in January. He’s too good a player. He just needs more time to get up to speed.” Lennon told RecordSport.

“Leigh isn’t fit just now. He’s had a thigh strain and is starting back training. He had a virus that kept him out of the squad for Hibs and isn’t fit enough at the minute to figure.

“That’s where we are. He needs to do a bit more cardio work, so he’s not in the squad at the minute because he’s working back from that injury.”

“I speak to him. I don’t whip him or anything, but I just have the odd chat here and there. It’s just to see how he is doing because he’s had a difficult time.

“He did fine when he came back and then it dipped but that happens, it’s natural. After that, he had the injury and he’s not fit enough to play.

“There is always a chance of players getting niggles but because Leigh has had that sabbatical, he’s finding it hard to maintain the fitness standards. In a few weeks he will be fit and firing.”

I think most Celtic fans are of the opinion the sooner Leigh is back and helping out with goals the better. Eddy is the main man but Leigh is a proven commodity in the SPFL and can get among the goals on frustrating days like Sunday.