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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Record Sport Online

Leigh Griffiths returns to Celtic after four-month absence

Leigh Griffiths will return to Celtic training this week - almost four months after being given time off to deal with personal issues.

The striker will be given a phased-return to top team duties, manager Neil Lennon said.

The 28-year-old spoke of his battles with mental health issues after being given time away from the game by previous boss Brendan Rodgers in December.

But he will return to the fray this week although Celtic haven't said if he is likely to feature before the end of the season.

Griffiths 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."

Leigh Griffiths (SNS)

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Lennon added: “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.  

“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."

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