LEIGH GRIFFITHS is back at former club Livingston in a bid to find a team with the new league season kicking off next weekend.
A year ago, the former Scotland international striker was only three weeks into a 12-month extension triggered by new Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou.
However, Griffiths, who will be 32 next month, never kicked a competitive ball for the Greek-Australian gaffer before agreeing a season-long loan at Dundee.
Three goals in 17 appearances saw the struggling Dens Park club, who would later be relegated, returning the player to Parkhead in January as the temporary transfer was cut short.
PAIN GAME…Leigh Griffiths in grief after a miss.
There was no place in Postecoglou’s plans for the attacker who hit 123 goals for the Hoops after being signed by Neil Lennon in a £1.2million deal with Wolves in January 2014.
With six months still to run on his terms, the contract was scrapped and the one-time prolific hitman became a free agent.
He pitched up at Falkirk on a reported £1,500-per-week deal in their efforts to reach the Championship play-offs. The quest was unsuccessful as they remained in the third tier with Griffiths scoring just two goals. He was released at the end of the campaign.
Now Griffiths is determined to get back into the game and Livi boss Davie Martindale has offered facilities to the player who left the West Lothian club for Dens Park in 2009.
LAST APPEARANCE…Leigh Griffiths in action against West Ham last summer. He was on his way to Dundee at the end of August.
The manager is hoping to provide the launch pad for the 22 times-capped international hitman and acknowledged: “Leigh was scunnered with football and he’s a former Livingston player and I wanted to help.
“I know he has had some trouble off the park, but everyone in football I have spoken to about him said how good a guy he is. I am finding that myself. He’s worked so hard, he’s lost weight and body fat and he’s been brilliant around the place.
“If I can help anyone, not just Leigh, I will go out my way to do that. He’s training well and he is looking for a club and we want to help him do that.”
LAST HURRAH…Leigh Griffiths heads in a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie during the ill-fated 2020/21 season – his final goal for Celtic.
Martindale, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “I want him to get back to where he should be, as we all know how good a player he is. He has to find that player again.
“From a few months ago to now he is in fantastic shape. Probably the best I have seen from him in a year. What I have seen is that desire to go and do better.
“It would have been easy for him to down tools in the summer and come in here in bad shape. But that’s not the case, he’s done a lot of hard work and I’m here to help him with the final bit and get him a club.”
