The Hoops and Scotland ace is back in training after several months away from football for personal reasons.
Celtic legend Davie Hay has expressed his delight with Leigh Griffiths being back in training at Lennoxtown and, although he does not expect him to be rushed back into action, he hopes the Hoops striker will feature before the end of the season.
The 28-year-old, who has scored six goals for his side this term, returned to training with the Scottish Premiership leaders at the end of March after being out of football since early December dealing with personal issues.
At present, it is not known when Griffiths will definitely return to action, although Celtic interim manager Lennon has previously suggested he may come back before the end of the season, as reported by BBC Sport.
“It’s great to see Leigh Griffiths back in and around Lennoxtown training with Celtic again, first and foremost for the boy himself,” Hay wrote in the Glasgow Evening Times. “He has had his time out to deal with his issues, the club have supported him brilliantly, and hopefully that is all behind him now.
“There is no rush for him to come back into first-team action you don’t feel, not with Odsonne Edouard, Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah all around the squad, but if you can get a fit Leigh Griffiths with his mind right into the reckoning too, then he would be an asset for anyone… hopefully we can see him pull on the jersey again before the end of the season.”
Hay, who played for Celtic between 1968 and 1974, as well as managing the Bhoys in the 1980s, also hailed the club for the support they have shown Griffiths, as well as going on to say Scotland boss Alex McLeish will probably need him more than Lennon.
Since joining Celtic from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2014, Griffiths has made 203 appearances for the Glasgow side, scoring 104 goals and registering 45 assists, according to Transfermarkt.
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