OPINION
Former Hibernian goalkeeper Ben Williams is exactly right when he says that having striker Leigh Griffiths back to top form would save Celtic “millions”.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Williams – who played with Griffiths while the pair were at Hibs – backed his former teammate to come back from a period away from the field in style.
“Leigh is proven at Celtic already and has been a consistent top performer in the Premiership since our time at Hibs six years ago,” the 36-year-old said.
“I’d definitely back him to perform to that level again under a manager who knows him well. Alongside another good striker in [Odsonne] Edouard it would save Celtic millions in finding a potential replacement of his ability.
“He is a natural striker, on form one of the best I’ve played with. He loves scoring and has that clinical, selfish ability strikers need.”
This is a fantastic call from Williams and one that would definitely prove fruitful for the Hoops. Last season, Griffiths only played half the campaign before departing on special leave, with his last game coming against Hibs in December.
In that time, he managed six goals in 20 appearances, which is not that bad of a return, all things considered.
But if you look at his previous seasons in a Celtic shirt – when he was bang on form and fully focused – you begin to see why bringing Griffiths back in next season could be a masterstroke.
In the 2017/18 campaign, the striker scored 13 goals and assisted eight others in 39 appearances in all competitions, while in the 2016/17 term, he scored five more than the aforementioned campaign and laid on seven more goals for others.
But it is Griffith’s 2015/16 statistics which really show why he could still be a magnificent player. In that season, the forward scored an astonishing 40 goals, which would have put him near the top of the leaderboard for goalscorers throughout Europe in that season.
What would be even more exciting for Celtic fans, is how Griffiths and Edouard would push each other on. As Williams says, the two would be great together and you wouldn’t bet against the pair banging in the goals for the club next term.
Edouard scored 22 goals for the Hoops in his debut season at Parkhead last term, and it may turn out that the two could share some healthy goalscoring competition next season.
Not competition that forces one striker out of the team, but competition that spurs each player on to go one better than their teammate when given the chance. And that sort of contest can only be good for the side going forward.
It all depends, however, whether Griffiths – who has obviously had time out – can come back to football and settle down again.
If he can do that, the Hoops could be in for an exciting campaign.