DUNDEE manager James McPake is determined to keep a hold of Leigh Griffiths for the remainder of the season.

The 31-year-old striker's Celtic contract is set to be cancelled early and once his loan at Dens Park expires at the end of the month, the former Scotland internationalist will be a free agent.

Parkhead chiefs informed Griffiths of the decision to tear up his deal last week and McPake is keen on retaining the centre-forward until the end of the campaign - outlining his belief that Griffiths has turned a corner of late.

"Leigh has trained over the past few days and has been working hard, he's in the squad," McPake said.

"When players like Leigh Griffiths pop up, you're always interested, our focus as a club is on [Tuedsay's game] at Livingston.

"The situation is what it is, I can't speak on behalf of Celtic, hopefully he goes and has a positive impact in our team.

"He's showing a desire to kick-start his career of late with that free-kick away to Aberdeen and scored in a bounce game last week against Forfar.

"That goal against Aberdeen is something Leigh has done all his career, he's a player that loves scoring goals and enjoying his football.

"When you get Griffiths scoring goals then you're getting a good player and we need to add more goals into him in the second half of the season."