Celtic legend Chris Sutton feels that striker Leigh Griffiths could soon prove to be like a £20million signing.
Sutton, a former Celtic man, recently wrote a column on the Daily Record and Griffiths’ situation was the main talking point of it. He feels that the former Wolves striker could still be an important player for the Hoops this season.
He said: “He has been through a lot and we want to see him coming back strongly and banging in goals for Celtic because if he gets back to that level then it would be like a £20million signing.
“Griffiths will want to get back playing at a high level but there are question marks over whether he can and it’s not unreasonable to say that.
“And Lennon has to be ruthless in that respect which I’m sure everyone can understand. If you ask the gaffer straight, he’d like Griffiths back playing regularly and helping the team to honours at the end of the season.”
A goal-getter despite problems
The 29-year-old Griffiths recently returned to first-team football in Celtic’s 4-0 win over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership (BBC). He had not made a first-team appearance for the club since their win over Hearts in August and has been out due to a hamstring injury since.
Before the injury, Griffiths had played eight times in all competitions for the Hoops. Despite the injury, he managed to score three times during this period. He also racked up one assist during this time.
Last season, the Scotsman had played 20 times in all competitions for the club which was under Brendan Rodgers during that time. He found the back of the net six times and racked up a tally of two assists too.
He had taken a break from football in the second half of the campaign and later revealed that it was down to mental health issues.
The Scotland international arrived at Parkhead from Wolves in the January of 2014 for a fee of £1million. Since arriving, Griffiths has appeared 212 times in all competitions for the club. He has found the back of the net 107 times and has racked up a tally of 46 times.
TIF Tactics
As things stand, Celtic have just one proper striker option in the side in Odsonne Edouard, whilst Vakoun Issouf Bayo remains on the sidelines. He himself has played 25 times in all competitions for the club, scoring 13 times and racking up as many as 12 assists too.
In the 4-2-3-1 shape, he has been the club’s consistent goalscorer and the first-choice striker. He has impressed in the Premiership and in the Europa League. As the season wears on, the club will need a striker option.
Griffiths, who is valued at £1.8 million (Transfermarkt), has shown that he has what it takes to be a regular striker and a back-up too. As the season wears on, Neil Lennon will need another striker so that Edouard gets adequate rest especially if the club goes far in the Europa League. Griffiths has shown that even when he doesn’t play regularly, he does score goals.