Brendan Rodgers yesterday laid out the reasons why the best winger at Celtic has very little chance of starting again for the club. But in doing so the Celtic manager opened up the possibility that he might now be minded to use the player in question in another way.
A significant impact
There’s a popular Celtic podcast called 20-Minute-Tims and that is exactly what James Forrest could bring to Celtic’s season. Coming off the bench as he did yesterday afternoon to make a significant impact on the proceedings. And of course in doing so the veteran winger, who is in his testimonial season as a Celtic player, could be the 20-Minute-Sub coming off the bench to help win matches.
“My joy was complete”
“My joy was complete when James Forrest came on because just seeing that quality with how he receives and takes the ball was great to see,” the Celtic manager told Viaplay after the 4-2 win over Livingston. Asked in Jamesy’s cameo performance in the Scottish Cup tie gives him more food for thought, the gaffer went out of his way to praise the Celtic legend.
“Listen, James is the best winger we have, with the greatest respect. It’s just that intensity that we ask in the game in constant runs and constant pressure. Sadly, age catches up with every player, with intensity or with every person for that matter!
He’s a fantastic player
“He still has a contribution to make and you saw that level when he came into the game with 25 minutes to go, and the quality that he has. He’s a fantastic player and just the joy of seeing him come in and seeing how he kept the ball and how he worked it was really good,” Rodgers said.
This Saturday, Celtic are at home to St Johnstone and this could give Brendan Rodgers a chance to give James Forrest twenty minutes to make the impact at the right side of the park. Give Kuhn 70 minutes then bring Jamesy on, sounds like a decent plan.
A course and distance winner
Yes, we get he’s maybe not up to chasing back in the way Daizen can but with Yang out through suspension, Kuhn unlikely to have 90 minutes in his legs at this stage and Luis Palma an injury doubt, James Forrest is a decent option for Brendan to have up his sleeve.
Forrest is a course and distance winner in the league and Scottish Cup and can play a significant role in winning both. And if this is to be his last season at Celtic, just like Joe Hart, he’d definitely prefer to go out with a bang!
