Brendan Rodgers hopes that James Forrest breaks legendary Celtic captain Billy McNeill’s medal haul and if he manages that at Hampden next weekend in the Scottish Cup Final then the 32 year-old winger should be given his own song by the Celtic support.
Brendan was of course joking but he also makes a valid observation that Jamesy’s achievements in the Hoops have somehow gone under the radar.
“If he does that, he might get a song”
“He needs to beat Billy McNeill’s record!” the Celtic manager said at his media conference today. “If he does that, he might get a song,” said Brendan.
“His record is remarkable”
“No, I’m surprised he doesn’t have one. There are clever guys in the stands who make up the words. He certainly deserves it. What a player, he’s been absolutely magnificent for us.
“His record is remarkable. The likes of him and Callum are stalwarts for this club, they do their talking on the pitch and class acts off it.
“They are real ambassadors for the club.”
Rodgers of course worked with Forrest during his first spell as Celtic manager so is well aware of the winger’s quality and what he brings to the team.
“He was outstanding in that period”
Perhaps Brendan was slow in accepting his own opinion that James Forrest is the best winger in his Celtic squad. And when given his chance after a few months in the mid-winter wilderness Jamesy set about proving Brendan right.
“Looking back to when I first came in and he was maybe on the way out,” Brendan recalled. “He was outstanding in that period. He’s maybe not played as much since I came back, with younger guys taking his place.
“You have to give them a chance. But you quickly come to the conclusion he’s our best winger.
“Okay, he may not be able to do some of the things he did six or seven years ago, but there’s a lot he can do and we’ve seen that in this last period.
“He’s been a real catalyst for this team”
“He’s been a real catalyst for this team. All the experienced players have been, they’ve really taken the games by the scruff of the neck.”
James Forrest also spoke to the media this afternoon ahead of Trophy Day at Celtic Park tomorrow afternoon against St Mirren and we’ll cover that shortly on Celtic Shorts.
