Leigh Griffiths on the road back at Celtic

Striker Leigh Griffiths will this week begin a “phased return” to Celtic, the Scottish champions have announced.

The 28-year-old Hoops striker has been out since December due to personal issues but will be working at the club’s Lennoxtown training complex from this week onwards.

The Glasgow club have announced that Griffiths will work in conjunction with the club’s medical and sports science staff as he attempts to eventually get back into first-team contention. Celtic’s interim manager Neil Lennon is welcoming Griffiths back with open arms.

“We are really pleased that Leigh will be looking to get things going again at Lennoxtown and be making a phased return to training,” he said.

“In no way will we put any timescale on a possible return to the first team. Instead, we will make sure we work with him on the best, most productive way forward. “He will really be focusing on his own programme at the moment and then we will see what progress we make from there.”

Lennon has reiterated Celtic’s support for their player and he says no pressure will be put on Griffiths to return to the first-team fold. “We will not rush him in any way and we will allow him, of course, to take things slowly and at the pace he is comfortable with,” he added.

“As the club has been doing throughout the last period, we’ll continue to give Leigh every support to make sure that his health and well-being are our number one priority.”

Griffiths had made 22 Celtic appearances – scoring six goals – in a campaign that had been disrupted by injuries before his break. He has thanked those that have stood by him. “I am so grateful to the club for everything they have given me and the way in which they have supported me so strongly,” he said.

“The Celtic supporters, too, have been a huge source of inspiration and strength for me and I want to thank them all sincerely for staying with me. “I know it will be a long road back but I am ready to do all I can to get there.”

Celtic are 1.73 to win Sunday’s showdown Rangers at Parkhead. The visitors are 4.33 while the draw is 3.75.