Leigh Griffiths could be available to feature in Scotland’s Euro 2020 qualifiers in June, according to Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
The striker was given personal leave earlier this season, with his last league game being in December, but he returned to first team training at the end of March , and his boss believes that he could be in line for an international comeback against Cyprus and Belgium in the near future.
As quoted in the Daily Record, he said: “I think he’ll be fit for the qualifiers. It would do him good.
“It would be nice for Scotland and it would be nice for me to have a quality striker added to the one I’ve got. He won’t be a million miles away, put it that way.
“And he could do that and come right back into pre-season with us – why not? The qualifier is June 11 and we are back on June 17 so there is no reason why he can’t go and play for Scotland and then come back into training with us.”
OPINION
This update on Griffiths’ fitness by Lennon is brilliant news for everybody concerned. Griffiths is obviously a fantastic goalscorer, and an experienced campaigner, and he has been a big miss, not just for Celtic but for the national side too. Given the nature of his absence, the fact that he is approaching a comeback is particularly pleasing to see, and it speaks volumes as to how good he is as a player that he should walk straight back in to the Scotland squad. As for the Hoops, the qualifiers will come at an ideal time, and give Griffiths a chance to prove his fitness before returning to club action a week later. Having him back next season will be like having a new signing, and in an increasingly competitive environment climate north of the border, his goals could prove to be a very useful asset as the quest for and eighth, ninth, and eventually 10th, successive title goes on.