Brendan Rodgers confirms Celtic favourite will undergo surgery this summer

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed striker Leigh Griffiths will undergo surgery this summer to hopefully put his injury woes behind him and have a better season in 2018/19.

The 27-year-old made only 10 starts in the Scottish Premiership this campaign, scoring and creating 11 goals, and started only nine other matches in the Champions League, League Cup and Scottish Cup.

Griffiths spent a large portion of the season sidelined with a calf injury and struggled for fitness throughout which cut down his playing time, but his manager believes the Scottish international can come back stronger in the next campaign.

Rodgers said to the Evening Times:

“It’s been unfortunate for him this year with injury, illness and bits and pieces.

“It’s probably been frustrating, but hopefully that will get tidied up and he’ll be back, fit and raring to go for pre-season.”

Griffiths joined Celtic from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2014 and has gone on to make 183 appearances in all competitions, contributing 141 goals.

The 27-year-old has won five Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish League Cups and one Scottish Cup, which could become two if Celtic beat Motherwell on May 19.

Rodgers has turned to Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard as a result of Griffiths’ injury problems this season, but the pair could be on their way out in the coming weeks.

Dembele has been linked with Villarreal and Marseille while Edouard has been linked with Vitoria, which should see Griffiths become more of a regular in attack next season.