BRIGHT FUTURE

Griff iths’ delight at putting ‘dark times’ in the past

LEIGH GRIFFITHS last night revealed his delight at emerging from the ‘dark times’ that have blighted his season.

The Celtic striker returned from six weeks out to rifle home a trademark free-kick and round off a 3-0 victory for his side at Hamilton.

Griffiths had been missing since the 6-0 win over St Johnstone on October 7 with a calf problem and illness, pulling out of Scotland’s double-header with Israel and Portugal last month to work on his fitness.

He subsequently had to endure a raft of speculation regarding the nature of his absence, his personal life and his future with the national side.

The 28-year-old started on the bench yesterday but replaced Odsonne Edouard in the 75th minute and took just seven minutes to get himself back amongst the goals for Celtic.

‘It is always nice to be back on the pitch,’ said Griffiths. ‘It has been a frustrating five or six weeks for me, trying to build up to full fitness. To

strike which was on its way towards goal, with Sinclair blazing the loose ball over.

The narrow one-goal deficit was Accies’ saving grace at the break but Ntcham came close to doubling the visitors’ lead with a right-footed drive from 14 yards which hit the side-netting.

The game drifted until Lustig’s cross from the right was headed goalwards by Sinclair from 12 yards, with Martin inadvertently redirecting the ball past Woods in 68 minutes.

Rodgers soon replaced Edouard with Griffiths for his first appearance since October 7 and the striker was clearly keen to impress following an absence that has contained no shortage of speculation, rumour and whispers.

The free-kick opportunity from 20 yards after Martin had hauled down Sinclair was right up Griffiths’ street, however, and he powered the dead ball into the net to seal a commanding win for the Parkhead side.

The visitors came close to adding a fourth when Christie’s deflected strike hit the post in added time.