Griffiths is ready to settle down

Leigh Griffiths has had enough of life as a football nomad and wants to settle at Celtic.

The 23-year-old is already on his fifth club but he wants to end his time on the road by putting roots down at Parkhead. And he knows that means winning over new manager Ronny Deila and convincing him he’s good enough to lead the line for Celtic.

Griffiths started his career at Livingston before moving to Dundee and eventually winning a move down to England with Wolves.

But he had two separate loan spells at Hibs before winning a dream move to the Scottish champions during the January transfer window.

And he said: “I want to make Celtic my home. That’s why I signed a long-term contract here. I’ve signed for four years and, hopefully, I’m here for a lot longer. The five months I’ve been here have been class, I’ve loved every minute of it and I want to keep it going.

“I supported Hibs as a boy and it was a dream come true to play for them but I was only ever on loan. I’m at the biggest club in Scotland now and it’s a pleasure to play alongside these team-mates. Long may it continue.”

Griffiths’ first target is to try to help Celtic qualify for the Champions League for a third-successive season. They travel to take on KR Reykjavik in nine days’ time and the Scotland star hopes it will be the first step on the road to him starring in the group stage.

He is yet to sample what it is like to play in the competition but is desperately hoping to earn the chance to do so.

“There’s only one way to find out if I’m ready to step up,” he said. “Hopefully I can get a game and showcase what I can do. I’m always confident. If you don’t go out there believing you can do something then why play the game at all?

“You need to go out, show your talent. Hopefully I can do that and show the manager what I’m capable of.”

His seven goals in 13 appearances last term won’t have gone unnoticed by Deila and Griffiths wants to pick up where he left off.

He added: “I want to get a full pre-season under my belt first and get really fit. We’ve a lot of games in a short space of time and I want to be available for selection each time.

‘It was good to get a run out on Thursday and we have another match today, then two more during the week.

“I was brought here to score goals and, fortunately, I managed to do that last season and I want to do the same this season.

“It’s just unfortunate that the manager who brought me here left but I have a new manager to impress now and I know I’ve got to continue working hard.”