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Hoops striker Leigh Griffiths. PA

Griffiths back in contention for Celtic after police probe, Ireland U21 midfielder Connell included for European tie

The Hoops face Danish side FC Midtjylland in a Champions League qualifier at Parkhead on Tuesday.

LEIGH GRIFFITHS IS back in contention for Celtic’s Champions League qualifying clash with Midtjylland at Parkhead on Tuesday night.

The 30-year-old striker was sent home from the Hoops training centre in Wales earlier in the month as police and the Parkhead club carried out investigations into his social media activity.

Police Scotland said it had established “no criminality” after carrying out a “full assessment” on claims Griffiths exchanged improper messages with a 15-year-old girl as well as another teen girl on social media.

Ahead of the visit of the Danish side, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou said: “He is ready to go. I think I said before the whole process with Leigh was pretty simple for me.

“Obviously with regard to the incident other people took control of that investigation and from what I understand everything has been sorted in terms of understanding what took place.

“From then he was made available and that’s when he came back into my consciousness as a footballer.

And I am not the kind who absolves himself of responsibility of things but with a limit of 24 hours every day and the amount if things I need to concentrate on, I decided that I will concentrate on the things I can control.

“And once Leigh came back into the squad and everything was settled in terms of the incident then he is back being a Celtic player, back as part of the squad and available for selection tomorrow.”

celtic-v-sheffield-wednesday-pre-season-friendly-dragon-park Luca Connell during Celtic's pre-season friendly against Sheffield Wednesday. PA PA

Meanwhile, Ireland U21 midfielder Luca Connell has also been included in the matchday squad. 

The Liverpool-born youngster, 20, has yet to line out competitively for Celtic’s first-team since joining from Bolton Wanderers in 2019. 

Connell spent time on loan at Queens Park in the Scottish League Two earlier this year, but will be hoping to do enough to impress new manager Postecoglou.

He has featured in pre-season along with fellow Irish players Jonathan Afolabi, Lee O’Connor and Barry Coffey.

- With additional reporting from Ben Blake

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Nora Creamer
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