NEIL LENNON has heaped praise on his impact striker Leigh Griffiths this week and believes the player is getting back to his best.
The Celtic manager admits his major disappointment at the way Leigh returned to training after lockdown, leaving him out of the pre-season tour and giving him his own program to get up to scratch.
Leigh suffered an injury while training hard to get his fitness back up but is now in a position to help the team, and he’s done that twice in the SPFL, coming from the bench on two occasions to help Celtic. The later winner against St Johnstone was huge, but even the stunning equaliser against Aberdeen could turn out to be a pivotal goal in the long term.
Speaking ahead of the Sparta Prague game, the Celtic gaffer won’t fully commit to saying Leigh is back to his very best, but he admits he’s done well to get into the reckoning.
“I’m delighted with Leigh Griffiths. I think he can get fitter, but that might come with more game time.’ Lennon told SunSport.
“He’s made a really telling contribution for us in a couple of games and is good to have around the place.
“So it’s a real positive step for him, being called back up for Scotland. I know how much that means to him.
“Hopefully he’ll get a real boost from that and we’re pleased for him.
“I just love seeing him back playing and scoring goals, the things he’s good at.
“I was disappointed with him after lockdown. But he’s knuckled down and is contributing now, which is important.
“He was really good in the second-half of last season for us and I’m looking for more of the same this season.
“Leigh has already weighed in with a couple of important goals, against St Johnstone and against Aberdeen.
“He’s had some minutes against Milan and some minutes last Sunday at Hampden too, so it’s all good from our perspective.
“What I know I’ve got with Griffiths is someone who is a danger, a brilliant finisher and a really good footballer with a clever football brain.
“I’m not saying he’s completely turned the corner.
“But he’s definitely on the right path, staying strong, staying fit and being available for a lot more games this season.”
Leigh will not start tonight at Celtic Park with Odsonne Edouard back in play. There is so much competition for places in the side, especially when Celtic only go with one man up top. Leigh’s impact from the bench could be the striker’s calling card this season.
let him get game time we need him…