WITH two goals and an assist in two games, Leigh Griffiths’ 2020 is off to a flyer. Looking fit, fast and sharp on the pitch, the striker is now desperate to cement his place in Neil Lennon’s starting XI – but said his return to football this season is due to the overwhelming support from the club and its fans.

Griffiths is now looking forward to playing in front of a full house tomorrow (Saturday), as the Hoops host Ross County at Paradise.

“It’s always nice to play at home and you always want to do well there,” said Griffiths in an exclusive interview with Celtic TV. “We need to put the last result at Celtic Park behind us, and move forward now.

“I felt sharp at the mid-season training camp in Dubai. Going over there, I think you need to put in that extra bit to try and catch the manager’s eye, and show him that you still want to be a part of the squad.

"There had been a lot of external talk about me maybe going out on loan or getting sold, but there’s only one place that I want to play, and that’s here. Thankfully, I’ve done myself justice in Dubai, and I’ve tried to carry that form into training back here.

“Since the moment I’ve come back, the support I’ve had from the Celtic fans has been overwhelming. Not just from the fans, but from Peter Lawwell, Neil Lennon, John Kennedy, Damien Duff, the squad, the whole lot, they’ve all been absolutely brilliant.”

Griffiths admitted it’s not always been an easy road up to this point, but he now appreciates every second he plays on the pitch.

He added: “It’s not easy to come back from what I’ve been through. To come back and to manage to get back on a football pitch has been brilliant, but the support I’ve had from the lads, the coaching staff and, most importantly, the fans has been amazing.”

Watch Celtic TV's exclusive interview with Leigh Griffiths in full here

Griffiths: Overwhelming support from fans key to my return