Owen Coyle revealed he nearly signed Leigh Griffiths back when he was manager of MLS side Houston Dynamo between 2014 and 2016, reports The Sun. At the time, Griffiths was struggling for playing time and could have been considering his future.
Coyle’s hopes of procuring his signature were dashed, however, after a substitute appearance led to Griffiths recapturing his form and earning a place back in the starting lineup. He took his time to prove his worth under then-manager Rony Deila and Coyle admitted he tried to capitalise on the situation.
The former Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic manager said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I’ve always been an admirer – I think he’s a very, very talented player.