LEIGH GRIFFITHS is in “a good place”, according to Neil Lennon after the comeback Bhoy netted in Celtic’s 6-1 win over Austrian amateurs Pinkafeld 6-1 in the opening game of their pre-season camp.
It was the striker’s first goal in his first appearance in six months after being sidelined with personal issues.
The Hoops boss said: “It’s great for him. He’s got a lot of work to do, we know that, but he’s back scoring goals and back playing football which is really important for him.
“It’s been a difficult time for him. It’s been a long road back, but it’s like having a new player.
“We’ve got Maryan Shved and Vakoun Issouf Bayo coming into the team as well, and I’m really pleased to see their conditioning and the way they’re playing at the minute.
“From Leigh’s point of view, it’s great to see him back integrated into the squad and doing what he does best. Let’s get him back to normal as soon as possible.
“He’s a natural footballer and, in training, he’s been looking better and better the longer we’ve gone on.
“It was a difficult week for him last week with some of the fitness work we give the players, but he got stronger as the week went on.
“He’s going well, he’s at the level we expect him to be at and there’s more to come from him. He’s in a good place.
“The club have been really good and he’s responded to that, so we want to put that episode of his career and his life behind him, look forward and get him back scoring goals.”
Griffiths got the leveller after the amateurs had taken a shock lead. It was a typical penalty-box predator’s close-range effort and showed the returning marksman had lost none of his sharpness in the situations.
The 28-year-old Scotland international hitman admitted “it was great to be back”, as CQN reported earlier today.
Mickey Johnston (2), Jack Aitchison, Ewan Henderson and Armstrong Oko-Flex also got on the scoresheet last night.
