Troubled Griffiths reported missing by friends this week
TROUBLED Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has thanked fans for support after it emerged he was reported missing by concerned friends this week.
The 28-year-old thanked well-wishers for their support after manager Brendan Rodgers announced on Wednesday that the 28-yearold was taking time out of football to deal with off-field issues.
The Scotland international said in a statement on his club’s website: “I just wanted to thank everyone at the club and so many Celtic fans and other people who have sent me such kind and powerful messages of support.
“I thank you all sincerely and want to let you know I’m doing all I can to come back as soon as possible, a better and stronger person.”
It comes after it was revealed loved ones of the footballer alerted police on Monday after the player went missing for a period of time.
He was later traced in Edinburgh city centre.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police were called at around 6.20pm to the Park Drive area, in Wallyford, on Monday, December 10 to a report of a concern for a person who was later found less than two hours later in Edinburgh City Centre.”
Griffiths’ girlfriend and two ex-partners shared touching social media posts after the news emerged.
Caitlyn Melville posted an image on Instagram of the couple on a night out.
Holding his face in the picture, she wrote: “After the darkness there will always be light. I promise you that.”
The Scotland international’s ex-girlfriend Linzi McCartney, with whom he has three children, also shared an emotional image of Griffiths with their kids on the pitch.
She simply captioned hers with a series of love hearts. Another one of his exes, Vikki Burns, who is also mother of his daughter, said: “The most important thing in this world is family and love.”
Griffiths, who recently returned from illness and another calf injury, came off the bench in the 5-1 Ladbrokes Premiership win over Kilmarnock at the weekend, but was out of Celtic’s Europa League Group B clash with Salzburg last night.