ANGE POSTECOGLOU says it is up to Leigh Griffiths to salvage his Celtic career after the striker was given a reprieve by the club and allowed to re-join the squad.
Griffiths was sent home from Celtic’s training camp in Wales last week after it was alleged that he had sent inappropriate messages to two schoolgirls, but he has since been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by police.
He was widely expected to have played his last game for the club though as Postecoglou delivered a withering response to a question over his future, but the Celtic manager now says the forward is once again part of his plans.
When asked if Griffiths has to grasp that this is now his last chance, Postecoglou said: “I don’t think that’s a question for me. I think you should probably put that question to Leigh.
“I’ve given him an opportunity to contribute to our season ahead and he’s now in the building, he’s training, with the opportunity to do that. Beyond that, the rest is up to him.
“Absolutely it was a serious thing. And because it was a serious thing that’s why I left the people who are responsible for that side of things deal with it.
“My role is that I’m football manager of this football club. I have responsibilities and a care for the people who are part of this football club. I had a team to prepare and Leigh wasn’t part of that whilst it was happening. But he’s now come back in and for me we move on from it.
“It’s pretty simple, and as I said to Leigh as I have said to all the players at the outset, the expectations and standards in terms of what I expect are pretty clear. And if people fall short of them then it doesn’t matter who it is, they’ll be dealt with.
“What that means depends on what happens.
“But once it’s been dealt with we move on.”
Callum McGregor, who was named as club captain yesterday, revealed he has also had a chat with Griffiths in an attempt to hammer home the gravity of his situation.
“I think he’s probably at that moment now,” he said.
“Everything has been dealt with from the club’s side of things, and I’ve said to him what I’ll say to you, football has to be his sole focus. That is what he is paid to do, he’s paid to come in and give everything for the club.
“When you are in this moment of transition as a club, we need everyone pushing in the right direction, and Leigh is no different to that as well.
“We draw a line under it, we move on, and we look forward to the game tomorrow night and then take it from there.”
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