On The Road Again

Leigh Griffiths on his return to football, getting back on the scoresheet and speaking out about mental health

- Joe Donnelly

WHEN Leigh Griffiths found the net against Lithuanian outfit FK Suduva last year, he became the 29th Celt to score 100 competitive goals for the club. The first player to do so since John Hartson in 2005, the striker went on to bag a further four goals before taking some time away from the game in order to focus on his mental health.

By his own admission, he’s now in a much better place and is delighted to be back doing what he does best – both on the training pitch and on matchdays.

He spent the summer working hard behind the scenes at Lennoxtown, and latterly at the club’s pre-season training camp in Austria and Switzerland, and made his competitive return as a second-half substitute against FK Sarajevo at Paradise earlier this month.

Celtic Park erupted when he did so, and, one week on, the forward marked his first competitive start of the season with wonderful 20-yard free-kick goal as the Hoops brushed aside Nomme Kalju 5-0 in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie.

Here, Leigh speaks to the Celtic View about his return to football, his outlook moving forward, and the importance of promoting mental health discourse in football.

We spoke to you after the SC Pinkafeld in Austria, when you returned to the pitch with a goal. On reflection, how was your pre-season?

I don’t think it necessarily matters who you’re playing against, as a striker you’re judged on your goals and I was delighted to get one during my first game back. Yes, it was pre-season and the main concern is getting the fitness up, but it’s always nice to be able to say I scored one or two. Pre-season was good, it was tough, but it was also about getting ready for the long season ahead. Training was intense, it was draining at times, but you need to get through it and that’s what I did.