CELTIC’S street fighting rascal is getting back to where everyone associated at the club wants him to be, writes Neil Cameron.
Leigh Griffiths is not yet the player he once was, there’s still a bit to go, but Neil Lennon can see the spark has returned to a lad who is coming out of the darkness.
The Celtic manager said: “Griff was really good against Stade Rennais, particularly in the first half, but he was obviously fatigued as the game went on but I was delighted with him.
“Everyone likes a rascal and he’s got that in him. You don’t want to take that away from him but he knows he’s got to knuckle down and he’s really done that over the last couple of months.
“He’s looking well, even in training a lot sharper. You never lose that hunger. He’s from the streets and you never lose that competitive edge.
“I’m not saying he’s the finished article by any stretch of the imagination as yet but he’s going in the right direction.
“It’s down to him to not only get fit but to stay fit and the level we want him to be at. It’s not like a Last Chance Saloon or anything but he knows he’s at that stage of his career where it’s important to stay on top of things.
“He’s missed out on a lot of football but he seems in a good place and he’s had a lot of good advice from people behind the scenes at the club and is in control of things which is important.”
New £3m left-back, Boli Bolingoli, has recovered from an ankle injury in time for the Champions League qualifier Sarajevo, with Celtic 3-1 up after the away leg.
READ MORE: Kieran Tierney critics don’t know their Celtic history
Summer signing Christopher Jullien is likely to need more match fitness before making his debut while Mikey Johnston (thigh), Marian Shved (groin) and Vakoun Bayo (hamstring) are just short of comebacks.
Kristoffer Ajer is fit and believes this Celtic team have grown over recent years and better prepared for when things do wrong in Europe.
He said: ““We didn’t panic when they score. In all the years I’ve been here we have been good at dealing with the good moments but an even more important thing is how to handle a game when we go a goal down.”
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