RANGERS manager Steven Gerrard last night wished Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths a swift return to football after the Parkhead club announced the player was taking an extended break from football to address personal problems.

Gerrard’s former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers yesterday revealed that Griffiths would be taking a sabbatical from the game to deal with “ongoing issues” in his life as he spoke ahead of Celtic’s match against Salzburg in the Europa League.

The Scotland internationalist has become an unpopular figure among followers of the Ibrox club in recent seasons after helping his club to record emphatic victories over them and also due to his inflammatory actions during those Glasgow derby games.

The 28-year-old has only featured sporadically for the double treble winners during the 2018/19 campaign and asked national manager Alex McLeish not to be considered for selection for the Nations League double header against Israel and Portugal in October so he could work on his fitness.

But Gerrard put tribal rivalries to one side as he prepared for Rangers’ vital Europa League game against Rapid Vienna in the Allianz Stadium in Austria to offer his support to the troubled player as he battles his off-field problems.

“Leigh has got some issues that Brendan mentioned today in his press conference,” he said. “That is sad news. We wish Leigh well and hope to see him back on a football pitch pretty soon.”