Do Dundee stick or twist with Griffiths?
A week after he returned to training with what are for now his Dundee team-mates, and six days before the Dens Park side return to Premiership action, Leigh Griffiths remains in a limbo.
The former scotland striker is to all intents and purposes very much still part of the Dundee squad. he even started a bounce game against Forfar Athletic last night at Station Park.
But it must be upsetting to know that in the background what sounds like the opposite of a tug of war for his services remains ongoing with Celtic, his parent club.
Dundee want to cut short the loan deal unless the terms of the arrangement can bere-negotiated. the den spark club are not terribly keen on keeping him on the current terms when, with only 16 league matches left to play, there’s a risk they might lose him for multiple games.
There is still a potential ban lingering over Griffiths following the kicking-a-firework-towards-fans incident against St Johnstone in September.
He has already been charged by Police Scotland and an SFA charge of excessive misconduct will have to wait until the legal procedure has run its course. With a new set of Covid restrictions having been put in place before christmas, there’ s no telling when that might be.
Still, Dundee, with a relegation battle looming, won’t wish to gamble on the current campaign finishing before the SFA are able to impose a suspension on the player.
In the meantime, all Griffiths can do is train – and try to get up to speed. He scored in a bounce game against Forfar last night. The one concern for Dundee fans surviving on what little information there is with regards the player’s future is what effect the winter break being brought forward might have on his fitness levels. His physical condition seemed unsatisfactory enough judging from when dundee were last in action, on Boxing Day.
Griffiths was required, due to circumstances, to play all 90 minutes v Aberdeen, as he was against Hearts the previous weekend. His display at Pittodrie when Dundee were, to be fair to him, on the back foot for much of the game was hardly reminiscent of the bustling Griffiths of old. Although what was reminiscent of the player in his heyday was the 30-yard thunderbolt free-kick he despatched into the top corner to give Dundee the lead.
It’ s moments like this, fleeting admittedly, which might help persuade James Mcpake that he’s worth keeping on – providing Celtic can offer more value in the deal. Whatever fitness gains were made by Griffiths playing two 90 minutes in quick succession have surely been dissipated by the latest break. The news that Dundee were interested in signing ex aberdeen strikers am cos grove on loan from Birmingham is a further indication that mc pake is not confident going into the second half of the season with Griffith seven continuing as his second-choice striker.
As it stands, with Jason Cummings on the lookout for a new club, Danny Mullen is the firstchoice. Griffiths will recognise that he’s not done enough to convince the manager otherwise. Two goals in 14 appearancesis not what was envisaged when Dundee signed him. The club made the timeframe very clear when confirming the deal.
“Dundee Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Leigh Griffith son a season-long loan from Celtic ,” said the statement.
He had effectively already cleaned out his locker at Celtic Park. There is no way back there. there may yet be a( short term) future at Dens Park.