Celtic's Leigh Griffiths vows to return 'leaner and meaner' after coronavirus shutdown

Image: Leigh Griffiths has scored eight goals since Celtic returned from the winter break

Leigh Griffiths has vowed to come back "leaner and meaner" once Celtic re-emerge from the coronavirus shutdown.

The Hoops striker has battled his way back into Neil Lennon's line-up following a difficult period off the pitch.

Lennon has found a way to accommodate both Griffiths and top-scorer Odsonne Edouard in his team and the Scotland international has pulled his weight in the final third, contributing eight goals since Celtic returned from the winter break.

He bagged a hat-trick against St Mirren before the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign was put on hold in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

But the 29-year-old believes he can become even more effective by shedding some pounds as he looks to put 18 months of frustration behind him.

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"I feel there's more to come from me," Griffiths told the Celtic View. "I can still get fitter and sharper so that's what I'm working on for now.

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"It's always nice to score. I'm back in the team and helping the side get three points was massive. To top that off with a hat-trick against Saints was brilliant.

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"I didn't go into the game thinking I was going to get a hat-trick. You can never determine what's going to happen in a game. I just had to be in the right positions at the right time and, thankfully, the goals have come.

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"It wasn't about my goals or my performance, though. It was about the whole team performance, which was brilliant.

"The manager hasn't had to say much to me. I know I can get a bit leaner and fitter so I'm working on that now. You never want to be told that you need to be a bit sharper.

"You want that to be concrete but if you've been told something, and they can see room for improvement, you have to get that done."

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