RONNY DEILA refused yesterday to rule out the option of Leigh Griffiths joining Hibs on loan.

But the Celtic boss insisted he'd rather see the striker acquire the fitness and knowledge required to make it in his team.

Griffiths arrived at the Hoops from Wolves in a £1million deal in January.But he's struggled to get a game since Deila took over from Neil Lennon.

The Hibs fan could still face an SFA charge over alleged racist chants in a pub before an Edinburgh derby last season. But Deila insisted there's been nothing in the player's behaviour to concern him since he took over.

Griffiths is simply not yet with the programme as dictated by Deila and, as a consequence, has found himself on the outside looking in at Parkhead.

The Hoops gaffer said: "We talk all the time. He's a nice boy and we have good communication. He knows how he stands and what the situation is.

"I've always said people have to improve all the time to get their chance. That's the same for Leigh as it is for the others."

Asked if it's a case of Griffiths having to want to improve, Deila responded: "Wanting to improve is one thing, but knowledge of how to do it is another.

"You have to ensure all the time that you have the attitude and knowledge.We work on both things and Leigh looks like he wants to do it.

"He really wants to succeed at Celtic."

One route to better fitness could be to go on loan to a club where he would play every week.

Griffiths would get that at Hibs, where he enjoyed a successful loan spell while with Wolves.

"We will see what happens," said Deila. "We know it's possible to loan players to Championship teams. But Leigh is here for now and I want him to get his fitness up because we know what's in him."

Deila has not given up hope Griffiths can make the required changes. That is because it's not just about what you do on the pitch, as Deila explained.

"Playing matches is important but so is being a 24-hour athlete. There have been no problems with Leigh off the pitch, so that's not why I said that. It's for everyone.

"It takes time to change culture. We have to work hard to get the knowledge into players."

Ironically, Griffiths could find himself back in action as Deila attempts to make full use of his squad for tomorrow's Premiership game against Motherwell and Wednesday's League Cup tie against Hearts.

The Hoops are facing an injury crisis with Mikael Lustig, Adam Matthews, James Forrest, Derk Boerrigter and Charlie Mulgrew now joined in the treatment room by Stefan Johansen, who picked up a dead leg late in the game against Salzburg.

Deila admitted he didn't know when Scott Brown would get back after being left behind in Austria on Thursday night.

But he is confident his captain will be available for tomorrow's match.