‘Proven top-quality’: Pundit thinks Celtic could make an ‘awfully silly’ transfer blunder

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Celtic would be ‘silly’ to let Leigh Griffiths go, with Hibernian ready to offer the striker a fresh start at Easter Road, former Scottish Premiership ace Michael Weir told Edinburgh Live. 

There is plenty of life left in this wily old poacher. 

Celtic coach John Kennedy needed a goal in Wednesday’s clash with Aberdeen and who did he turn to? Arguably the division’s most lethal finisher; a man who comes alive when the ball drops in the penalty area. 

Inevitably, it was super-sub Griffiths who bailed out his green-and-white-clad teammates at Pittodrie, guiding a fine header into the Dons net with 93 minutes on the clock. 

With his instincts as sharp as ever, there will surely be no shortage of clubs picking up the phone should Celtic decide against extending Griffiths’ contract this summer.

Hibernian coach Jack Ross has already admitted that the 30-year-old Scotland international would be welcomed back in the green side of Edinburgh (Record).

And Weir, a former Hibs player from 1984 to 1996, cannot understand why the capital-city club would not seize a golden opportunity with both hands.

“I’m a bit miffed why he hasn’t played more games for Celtic over the last few months. I was surprised to see him on the bench and only coming on with five or 10 minutes to go,” said Weir, who had two spells at Easter Road. 

“There’s still a lot of football left in Leigh Griffiths. He’s had injuries but he’s got that killer touch in front of goal as he showed against Aberdeen.

“(Hibs striker) Kevin Nisbet has come in and shown he’s a goal-scorer but if you’re talking about Leigh Griffiths you’re at a different level – he has proved it over a sustained time and if he’s available then I’m sure Jack Ross would want to sign him.  

“You’re talking about a proven top-quality striker which is very hard to come by.

“I still think he’s got a part to play at Celtic under a new manager. It would be awfully silly of them to let him go and not have a think about his goals record.”

Celtic have the option to extend Griffiths’ contract and, with Odsonne Edouard expected to follow Patryk Klimala out the door, they may still decide to do just that.