Club legend believes time is up for Leigh Griffiths at Celtic despite late goal at Aberdeen

Club legend Pat Bonner believes the time has come for Celtic to allow Leigh Griffiths to leave at the end of this season – despite the striker underlining his qualities with a last-gasp equaliser against Aberdeen.

Leigh Griffiths celebrates after equalising for Celtic with just about the last touch of the ball. Picture: SNS

The Scotland striker came off the bench to salvage a point for John Kennedy’s side in the north east, heading past goalkeeper Gary Woods after being picked out by Mohamed Elyounoussi in the third-minute of injury time to cancel out Lewis Ferguson’s opener.

It could end up being his last goal for the club with just three games remaining in Celtic’s campaign. The club hold an option to keep Griffiths around for another year should they wish. If it isn’t activated by the end of this month, he’ll be free to leave in the summer.

Asked on BBC Sportsound whether he thinks Celtic should look to keep Griffiths, Bonner responded: “No, no, no. I think it’s time to change all that now for Celtic. They’ve got to change the personnel, players on the fringes, they’ve got to change everything.

“Leigh Griffiths is one of those who they should tell to find pastures new. He is only 30 years old. He’s still got another four or five years in which to perform and score goals.

“There’s no doubt he could do a job if you get him right. I know he’s had his issues and his problems. If you can get him right mentality from a perspective of getting him out there every day, doing his training, getting himself fit, all of that, then he will score goals for fun.”

Hibs have been credited with an interest in bringing the striker back to Easter Road. Manager Jack Ross said when asked about the striker last week: “He’s still contracted to Celtic and there’s nothing to say he won’t be as things stand.

“It is an easy connection to make because of his association with the club and his time at Hibs before.

“But I would temper that by saying is he a player we have admiration for? Of course, because his goalscoring record is up there with the best in Scotland over recent years.

“It may be something that should the opportunity arise, it would be something we’d discuss.”

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