Hibs boss fears Wolves may recall Leigh Griffiths
Pic Greg Macvean, 13/09/2012, Hibs / Hibernian Football Club team shot for season 2012/13 plus head shots - Leigh Griffiths with his player of the month for August award
Hibs boss Pat Fenlon has revealed he fears Wolves could be tempted into recalling Leigh Griffiths if the striker’s super-charged start to the season continues.
Griffiths’ goals have not only helped propel the Easter Road club into third place in the SPL table but earned him a Scotland Under-21 return and the Clydesdale Bank Player of the Month Award for August – all rewards, Fenlon insisted, for the hard work he has put in.
Describing the 22-year-old’s form thus far as “exceptional”, Fenlon said: “I’m chuffed for Leigh. He has had a great start to the season. He has got his head down and worked really hard and we’ve said to him if you work hard enough the rewards are there.”
Having spent last season on loan at Easter Road, Hibs-daft Griffiths returned on a similar agreement until January when, Fenlon accepts, there is a danger he could be lost to the Capital club. Revealing he believes Griffiths is beginning to rid himself of the actions which have attracted so much publicity, the manager said: “Like a lot of younger players, you tend to look back when you are 23 or 24 and think ‘what the hell was I doing at 19 or 20?’ I believe Leigh is starting to mature a little bit. He still drives me mad at times, if I’m honest, but you need to have that infectious edge.
“If you take that out of his game then you lose too much. It’s about managing that and we need to make sure we do that to get the best out of him.
“Leigh has to keep his head down and keep progressing because there are still bigger rewards out there. He can play at a really high level. Leigh has the belief and desire to achieve that.”
Although Stale Solbakken has told Griffiths he has no future at Molineux, Fenlon admitted he worries the new Wolves boss might have a change of heart if the hitman continues to hit top form in a green and white jersey.
He said: “You are always worried that things may not be going well down at Wolves and they see him banging in the goals and decide to give him a go in the Championship. As I have said, he is capable of doing that and from a manager’s point of view, it would be difficult to replace him.
“But it would also mean we have done our job and got something out of him to the extent Wolves would want him back in their team. It’s Catch-22 and if it happens then we will deal with it at the time.”
Meanwhile, Fenlon has made Tom Taiwo his final summer signing, snapping up the former Carlisle United defender on a two-year deal.
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