Jim Goodwin is considering offering Leigh Griffiths the chance to kick-start his career in Paisley - but only if St Mirren striker Eamonn Brophy is ruled out for the long-term.
Griffiths is a free agent after knocking back the chance to stay at Dundee but Buddies boss Goodwin believes he’s just the man to get him fit and firing again.
The former Celtic hitman already has options, including from ambitious League One outfits Falkirk and Queen's Park, but Goodwin has no doubt the former Scotland favourite could yet have a top-flight future if he can sharpen up and shed the pounds.
The Saints boss has already held talks with Griffiths’ agent but has yet to table a firm offer.The final call on that will depend on how long frontman Brophy - who damaged ankle ligaments against Motherwell on Tuesday - faces out of action.
But Goodwin is already preparing his sales pitch and is confident he could get the 31-year-old back amongst the goals.
He said: “I’d definitely fancy myself to manage players in the way that would get the best out of them.
“Leigh is a player I’ve admired from afar because he’s always been out of our reach, playing for Celtic and banging in goals for them at the highest level.
“It’s less than five years ago that he was scoring those fantastic free-kicks for Scotland against England.
“Unfortunately, we’d all agree it hasn’t quite worked out for him in the last 12-18 months but he’s still a good player and one of the most natural goalscorers Scotland have got.
“Look, it’s up to Leigh where he wants to go from now until the end of the season.
“But he’s definitely on my list at the moment, depending on the outcome of Eamonn Brophy’s scan on his ankle.”
Griffiths netted three times in 17 run-outs for James McPake’s team but turned down the chance to remain at Dens Park.
Goodwin added: “I think he’s at a good age and that he still has a lot to offer. He needs to get himself fitter and sharper again and I believe he’d be honest enough to admit that himself.
“We could help him with that if we did manage to do some kind of deal.
“Leigh needs to know he’d be playing week in and week out and to be given that opportunity.
“Whether or not we go back into the market depends on the results of the Brophy scan but there aren’t many free agents around better than Leigh.
“I’ve been speaking to his agent but there hasn’t been an offer put in front of Leigh at this moment in time.
“As soon as Eamonn was injured against Motherwell on Tuesday I sat up until two in the morning and went through all the players we have on our database.
“I scoured the market to see who would be available within our price range and Leigh is on that list, which is all I can say at the moment. He’s probably the best one on the list which, logistically, we could make work.
“Leigh lives in Bothwell, which is half an hour up the road so, if we’re in a position where we need to do some business, he would be the best option for us.”
Brophy rolled his ankle during St Mirren's midweek draw with Well and Goodwin is bracing himself for bad news.
“It’s looking like it will be a number of weeks,” he said. “Our physio Kevin Bain says it looks like a slight tear on the ligament on the outside of his right ankle.
“It’s disappointing. It’s been too stop-start for him. He had the hamstring problem, he came here with the foot injury last season, there’s been Covid issues.
“We’re all just desperate to keep Eamonn fit and available because we know if we can get him a good run of games he’ll score goals.”
