Frank McGarvey has urged Leigh Griffiths to force his way back into the Celtic side.
The striker missed the second half of last season to deal with personal issues but after a promising start to the new campaign hasn’t played since getting a 15 minute run against Hearts at the end of August.
Odsonne Edouard is Celtic’s first choice striker but with a packed fixture list the Frenchman needs back up with Griffiths a tried and tested goalscorer.
Next summer there is bound to be transfer interest in Edouard, with France competing in the Olympic Games Celtic will be on the look out for a goalscorer for their UEFA qualifiers with no-one better equipped than Griffiths.
Celtic could go into the transfer market in January with the next three months critical for Griffiths to prove that he can make a contribution.
Discussing his situation McGarvey told the Daily Record:
I think he’s maybe got a wee bit of the ‘poor me’s’ and he has to try to get out of that and get back into the first team. He’s had problems and I can understand what he’s going through but he’s got to get himself back.
He’s a fantastic finisher and a brilliant player and it’s up to him to get back and be first choice. Can he come back given his problems and how long he has been out? Yes, you can always come back.
After the latest batch of social media rumours Griffiths published a video clip yesterday on Instagram of a scene from the gym at Celtic’s Lennoxtown Training Centre.