Leigh Griffiths took 35 minutes to find the net in his first match since early December but believes that minutes are more important than goals at this stage of the season.
The striker scored his 100th Celtic goal last August but at the start of December Brendan Rodgers announced that he wouldn’t be available as he dealt with personal issues. Griffiths returned to Lennoxtown at the end of March but wasn’t pictured on the training ground with his sessions confined to working out in the gym.
There was speculation that he could play in some of the end of season matches but that failed to happen with Odsonne Edouard continuing as the sole striker. Last night’s 6-1 win is unlikely to be recalled in much detail but after his lengthy absence getting back on the pitch carried a lot of significance for Griffiths.
????? @Leighgriff09: “It was great to pull on that shirt again and get back on the pitch.”
LG9????? #TurnUpTheHeat pic.twitter.com/6n6VQ3vtm3
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 26, 2019
Pre-season is always difficult, especially in this weather but it was good to put the shirt back on and get on the pitch.
Their boy hit a good free-kick, I think it moved in the air but we responded pretty quickly after it and I should have done better with the second one that hit the post.
Training is difficult but it’s not the same as playing in a match. It was a good test for us tonight, we played well, scored goals and just need to carry that forward into our other games
It’s not just about scoring goals (for me), it’s about getting back into good habits, making runs and playing well. If the goals come the goals come, they don’t really count in pre-season it’s about getting the minutes under the belt.
We’re putting in the fitness and getting the foundations to make sure that it is a long and successful campaign. The boys won’t be taking our foot off the gas and the gaffer won’t let us slip up.
After two days back on the training ground Celtic face FK Weiner on Saturday before crossing the Swiss border on Tuesday to take on St Gallen.
Take a bow sonhttps://t.co/ZHAf7rgfRN
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) June 26, 2019