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Celtic confirm imminent Leigh Griffiths return

Celtic confirm imminent Leigh Griffiths return
© Reuters
Griffiths has not played since December 8.

Leigh Griffiths will this week begin a "phased return" to Celtic.

The 28-year-old Hoops striker has been out since December with personal issues but will be working at the club's Lennoxtown training complex, in conjunction with the club's medical and sports science staff, with a view to returning to training with the first team in the future.

Interim manager Neil Lennon told the club's official website: "We are really pleased that Leigh will be looking to get things going again at Lennoxtown and be making a phased return to training.

"In no way will we put any timescale on a possible return to the first-team. Instead, we will make sure we work with him on the best, most productive way forward.

"He will really be focusing on his own programme at the moment and then we will see what progress we make from there.

"We will not rush him in any way and we will allow him, of course, to take things slowly and at the pace he is comfortable with.

"As the club has been doing throughout the last period, we'll continue to give Leigh every support to make sure that his health and well-being are our number one priority.

"We'll work with him to ensure he has everything he needs to give him the chance to get back to where he was, but understanding totally that he will need time and space.

Griffiths' last game came against Kilmarnock in December
Griffiths' last game came against Kilmarnock in December (Jane Barlow/PA)

"It will be great to see him back, even at this very early stage, and we'll make sure we give him our total support."

Griffiths, whose last game was against Kilmarnock on December 8, said: "I'd like to thank everyone for showing me such support across the past few months.

"I am so grateful to the club for everything they have given me and the way in which they have supported me so strongly.

"The Celtic supporters, too, have been a huge source of inspiration and strength for me and I want to thank them all sincerely for staying with me.

"I know it will be a long road back but I am ready to do all I can to get there."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic330087285987
2RangersRangers320179275281
3Hearts311149371266
4Kilmarnock31114538755
5St Mirren31024247-546
6Dundee30034662-1641
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen33004149-844
2Motherwell32015554143
3Hibernian31024858-1042
4Ross County31023564-2933
5St Johnstone30032652-2631
RLivingston32012764-3724
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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