Return to sender? Celtic face nightmare scenario over Leigh Griffiths

Leigh Griffiths could be on his way back to Celtic- four months into his loan spell at Dundee. 

Celtic gave the striker a 12 month extension to his contract at the start of July but a few days into pre-season training in Wales he was sent home to deal with a police enquiry. 

Despite the likely loss of Odsonne Edouard Ange Postecoglou avoided using the former Scotland striker with Griffiths going to Dundee on loan at the close of the transfer window. 

Dens Park boss James McPake was a team-mate of Griffiths at Livingston and Hibs but despite that bond he has been unable to get the 31-year-old back among the goals with just two to his credit- both against Aberdeen. 

Halfway through the season Dundee are second bottom of the Premiership table with some harsh decisions to be taken this month, McPake’s job could be on the line if he stands by Griffiths and Dundee end up back in the Championship. 

 The Sun reports: 

DUNDEE boss James McPake is agonising over the immediate future of loan striker Leigh Griffiths. 

SunSport understands a break clause in the original season-long deal allows McPake to terminate it this month and send the 31-year-old back to Celtic. 

Dens Park chiefs Tim Keyes and John Nelms are so far deeply unimpressed by Griffiths’ contribution — just nine starts and two goals — so pressure is building on McPake to justify keeping him for the rest of the season. 

It was thought Griffiths  close relationship with ex-Hibs pal McPake would help to reignite the former Scotland star’s career. But instead he has struggled for fitness and form, with a total of only 14 appearances.

What could help him is Dundee’s lack of depth in the forward areas. McPake has already decided Jason Cummings is done at Dens following a disciplinary issue, while Cillian Sheridan is out with a ruptured Achilles. That leaves just Danny Mullen and Alex Jakubiak for McPake to call on. 

Despite Celtic’s injury problems it is highly unlikely that Postecoglou would find a place for a striker that has been returned by a club in the relegation fight. 

Although Dundee are probably only paying a small portion of Griffiths’ Celtic contract the decision for McPake is whether those funds could be better spent on another striker.

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