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Celtic's Leigh Griffiths says this season has been a disappointment

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Celtic's Leigh Griffiths is targeting 40 goals for the season after being nominated for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.

Leigh Griffiths admits this season has been a disappointment, despite his Player of the Year nomination and the fact he is closing in on a Scottish Premiership winners' medal with Celtic.

The striker was named on PFA Scotland's four-man shortlist alongside Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes and Dundee duo Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart after hitting 38 goals so far this season.

Celtic could clinch their fifth consecutive title this weekend but cup semi-final defeats to Rangers and Ross County, plus a poor European campaign, saw boss Ronny Deila announce he would be leaving in the summer.

Player of the Year nominee Leigh Griffiths from Celtic.
Image: Griffiths is up against Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes and Dundee duo Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart for the award

And that has soured the campaign for the former Hibernian and Wolves striker.

"It's always nice to get individual awards but collectively as a team it's been a disappointment," Griffiths said.

"Europe wasn't great and going out the cup competitions wasn't great either, but we still need to stick together as a squad and we can make history by getting that five-in-a-row.

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths cuts a dejected figure
Image: Griffiths says this season has been a disappointment, despite closing in on a Premiership title with Celtic

"Expectation levels at Celtic are exceptional, you are demanded to win every game and if you don't there's questions asked, and rightly so. But we are still going for five-in-a-row and when we get over the line, we can have some fun."

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Celtic will secure the Premiership crown this weekend if they beat Hearts at Tynecastle and Aberdeen fail to beat Motherwell.

Griffiths can then focus on reaching the 40-goal mark, which he admits is a major target for him, but he knows it will be difficult to improve on that figure next season.

Ronny Deila gives instructions to Leigh Griffiths at Pittodrie
Image: Ronny Deila will leave Celtic at the end of the season

"It's going to be hard to better it," he added. "But last year I just said I wanted to get a run in the team and continue the form I had last season.

"I have managed to get a clear run this time. I missed a few games in December with injury but I came back and started scoring again, which is always positive."