New Dundee striker Leigh Griffiths does not want to ‘walk into the first-team’ at Dens Park – he wants to earn his stripes after a Deadline Day transfer from Celtic.
The 31-year-old has joined the Scottish Premiership club – who he played for between 2009-2011 – on a season-long loan deal. Griffiths links up with good friend and Dee manager James McPake, who he played with at Livingston, then Hibs. The on-loan Celtic forward says McPake was the biggest factor in his move.
Leigh Griffiths has joined from Celtic. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
He said: “I am happy to get it done as I need to go and play football. James made his intentions clear and he has always wanted the best for me. But I need to earn that jersey – I am not going to come here and walk into the first-team. I need to work hard every week so I can get picked at the end of it.
“What excited me was how much the gaffer wanted me here. I have been at Livingston with him, I have been at Hibs with him – he knows what I can do. It’s about implementing myself on the game and working with top guys like Charlie Adam, who has played at the top end of the English Premier League.”
Griffiths was disappointed that the move from Celtic was leaked, however. A screenshot of a FaceTime call with his son was posted on Twitter before Dundee’s announcement, Griffiths explaining: “I never posted that picture! It was a mistake and it was not meant to get out.
“I was on Facetime to my wee boy and he is a massive Dundee fan. He stays in Dundee and the shocked expression on his face when I told him I was coming here was a picture. But I never posted it and it shouldn’t have got out until the announcement. I have a bittersweet taste in the mouth about that.”
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