Celtic hero Leigh Griffiths spotted as he goes under the knife in Australia

LEIGH GRIFFITHS can’t resist a smile as he reads a ‘Get Well Soon’ card written by his son Jacob from his hospital bed.

The Celtic and Scotland hero is plying his trade with semi-pro Mandurah City in Western Australia, but he’s been forced to go under the knife.

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He bagged 11 goals in ten games as the Western Australian side narrowly missed out on promotion in his first spell at the club.

Griffiths then played right through to the end of the season last month as they went down in the promotion play-offs to Perth Glory’s Under-23 side.

Sharing the image on her Instagram account, fiancee Caitlyn added the words: “surgery done”.

“Time for recovery and to stop putting on a brave face 24/7

“Jacob made him the sweetest card.”

Another post read: “Boys so excited to bring their dad back from hospital.”

Still only 34, Griffiths left for Australia just over a year ago with Caitlyn and sons Rhys and Jacob.

He was rarely injured during his pro career, where he scored 123 goals and lifted 14 major trophies for Celtic in addition to stints with Hibs and winning 22 caps for his country.

While the elite fitness required at Parkhead is no longer needed, that finishing ability still sticks out like a sore thumb at Mandurah City, where he works under former Forfar boss John Baird.

When he confirmed his full time move, he said he was enjoying being out of the limelight.

He told the Mandurah Mail: “It’s about Leigh finding Leigh

“We’re not going to be training every single day so it’s a case of ‘what can Leigh Griffiths get up to?’

“Speaking to John (Baird) there’s going to be opportunities to stick into football and coaching.

“That’s an avenue I want to get into. It’s come along quicker than planned but I’m looking forward to it.

“First and foremost it’s about the football opportunity to get back playing, get back to putting a smile on my face.

“Keeping in touch with John during the period I was away, and some of the boys as well, was a massive factor in my coming back.”

“I’m not going to be pestered all the time, I’m not going to be having people shout stuff to me in the street – it might happen now and again with some Scots here – but nine times out of 10 I can go to dinner, I can go do stuff and just be a number and not a face anymore. For me that’s the most important thing.

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“I loved my time at Celtic, I had eight glorious years there, it was brilliant, but when you play for one half of the city in Edinburgh (Hibernian) and one half of the city in Glasgow (Celtic) you’re going to have opposition fans that won’t like you.

“That’s part and parcel (of playing for those clubs) and I’ve had that for the best part of 12 years now.

“It’s something I got used to, but when you’re trying to take your kids out for dinner or walk around the shops and people are videoing you and stuff like that, it’s not enjoyable anymore.

“I can walk around the shops here and I’m just a number, I’m not a ‘face’.

“I’m going to let my football do the talking. JB will be the gaffer behind me keeping me right, but my main focus is making sure Mandurah do well this season.”

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