Leigh Griffiths: Celtic striker rejoins Dundee on season-long loan
- Published
Striker Leigh Griffiths says he joined Dundee from Celtic despite Hibernian having a late bid accepted for him.
The 31-year-old sealed a season-long loan return to Dens Park - where he played from 2009-11 - on deadline day.
In July, Griffiths extended his Celtic deal to summer 2022 but failed to feature under Ange Postecoglou.
"I had a couple [of offers] from England, and I got told Hibs were interested late, but nobody picked up the phone there," he said.
"If they pick up the phone, it's a different story. It would have been a massive decision. But they didn't, so it was an easy decision for me coming here."
BBC Scotland has contacted Hibs for comment.
Scotland international Griffiths previously had two loan spells at Easter Road after leaving Dundee to join Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In July, Griffiths - having been sent home from Celtic's training base in Wales - was cleared of criminality over alleged inappropriate social media messages to teenage girls.
"I'm still contracted there and there's no bad blood between me and the club," he added. "Celtic were happy for me to stay there and then it was difficult for me to get back in after missing pre-season.
"It's just about proving to myself that I've still got the hunger and desire to do well."
Griffiths has scored 234 goals in 487 club appearances and netted four times in 22 international matches. He was previously a team-mate of Dundee manager James McPake at Livingston.
"Certain players need to be loved. I'm probably one of them, James will tell you that," he said.
"I want to showcase my talent on the pitch and make sure people are talking about the Leigh Griffiths of old instead of the one plastered on the front pages."
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