Leigh Griffiths future in doubt after Celtic snub

Striker has been linked with a return to boyhood heroes Hibs. Picture: Robert Perry

The striker, who is subject of an approach from the Easter Road club to take him on a 93-day emergency loan, has now played no part in Celtic’s last four matches. Hibs are still waiting to learn if the Parkhead club will allow the 24-year-old to rejoin them.

The striker, who scored 39 goals for his boyhood heroes in his two previous stints, is finding it increasingly difficult to navigate his way into manager Ronny Deila’s plans with the Premiership champions.

Hibs captain Liam Craig, who was playing his football with former club St Johnstone during Griffiths’s previous stay in the Edinburgh, is more than content with the firepower the Easter Road side can call upon irrespective if the Scotland internationalist makes the switch east or not.

Craig said: “Dominique [Malonga] has come in and he’s been excellent and Jason Cummings is coming back into the team too.

“It’s not just all on the strikers though to get on the scoresheet. I look at myself and I’ve got to score more goals.

“Last year we relied on the defenders to score from a lot of set-pieces so we’re going to need everyone chipping in this year.

“Yes, it would be great if we could get a striker who can score 30 or 35 goals – then we would be at the top of the league.

“Leigh scores goals, but he’s Celtic’s player so there’s nothing we can do about that just now. We can only focus on what’s in the dressing-room and the players we’ve got at the club.”