James McPake has no regrets about taking Leigh Griffiths on loan to Dundee in August although neither of them are still at Dens Park.
At the start of July Celtic gave the striker a new 12 month contract but after being sent home from the pre-season training camp in Wales he failed to make a competitive appearance before being sent out on loan.
Following three goals in 17 appearances Dundee cut the loan deal short in January with the status of the player something of a mystery.
Celtic didn’t make any sort of comment on Griffiths who signed a deal with Falkirk, dropping down two divisions he has scored twice in six appearances with the Bairns three points adrift from Queens Park in the final Play Off place.
Less than 18 months ago Griffiths scored from the penalty spot in the shoot-out win over Serbia and Celtic’s Scottish Cup victory over Hearts but at the age of 31 his future is at best uncertain.
Despite the Dens Park experience McPake is glowing in praise for the striker, listening in to his appearance on Go Radio, The Sun reports the former Dundee boss saying:
I believe there is still time for him. He is hungry to get himself back. He is still young. What he is, and I don’t think anyone can doubt it, is a finisher. He’s certainly the best finisher I’ve ever seen, and I’ve played with a lot of good players.
I’ve played with some who are in the England team just now, obviously they were younger at the time, but (you see) the way Leigh can strike the ball with that left foot.
Did it work out the way we wanted it to at Dundee? No. He’ll admit that, but there were obviously other circumstances to that as well. We can’t blame that all on Leigh.
Hopefully he uses the summer, which he will need to do. From having conversations with him he is serious about it.
If Leigh is serious about it, and gets himself fit, a team will take him because he guarantees you goals. But you need to get him fit
Why a 31-year-old isn’t fit two years after the first Lockdown and two batches of pre-season training is something of a mystery.
Where Griffiths will be next season is anyone’s guess, the only certainly seems to be that his Celtic days are finally over.
