Leigh Griffiths has been tipped to make a return to football before the end of the season.
The striker bowed out of football to deal with personal issues at the start of December with only the occasional cryptic post on social media offering an update on his well-being.
With Moussa Dembele sold during the summer transfer window Celtic have been short of striking options with Oliver Burke adapting to that position since coming in on loan from West Brom.
Neil Lennon signed Griffiths in January 2014 before stepping down as manager five months later but appears to have kept in touch with the striker despite being away from Celtic.
The Scotsman reported:
Commons wrote in the Daily Mail: “It’s my understanding that Leigh Griffiths is close to making his return following some off-field personal difficulties. “He feels like he’s in a much better place mentally and is looking forward to getting back on the pitch and contributing.
“Neil Lennon certainly won’t rush him back – and nor should he. “He’ll put an arm round him and give him all the time he needs. “From what I’m hearing, Lennon has spoken more to Griffiths over the past week than Brendan Rodgers did during the past two months.”
Griffiths’ return would be a big boost for Celtic but the striker is likely to need some time to regain match fitness.
In 2016 and 2017 he played important roles in Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers with those matches, next season probably more realistic prospects for a return to first team action.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo was signed in January but with just five minutes of action to his name his Celtic career has still to get underway.
The one that Rodgers left behindhttps://t.co/unPQ9xbrO7
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) March 4, 2019
