Jonny Hayes admits he ‘didn’t enjoy’ playing against ‘criminally underrated’ Celtic player

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Celtic put on a show at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.

With the 2024/25 Premiership season coming to a close, Brendan Rodgers made eight changes to the Celtic XI that beat Hibernian over the weekend.

One of the names, to the delight of the supporters, to start was James Forrest, as he searches for that much-needed goal to ensure he has scored in every league campaign of his career.

Even though Celtic put five goals past Aberdeen, and Forrest walked away with the Man of the Match, he didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet, although, he did come close on many occasions.

Playing on the right flank, Celtic’s most decorated player of all time, caused Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie problems all night long.

Forrest helped himself to an assist during the game, and he was rightfully given his flowers.

• READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers’ selection headache, James Forrest’s worries, three things we learned as Celtic thump Aberdeen

Jonny Hayes wowed by ‘criminally underrated’ James Forrest after Celtic thrash Aberdeen

Jonny Hayes, who is now part of Celtic’s academy as a coach, represented the green and white colours for several years, including playing for Aberdeen.

When it comes to facing up against Forrest, he got the best of both worlds, and admitted, that he simply ‘didn’t enjoy’ it when he was on the other side.

But Hayes made it clear, having watched Forrest from afar, as well as being able to see what he is like up close and personal, he still thinks that the all-action winger is ‘criminally underrated’, as he told Sky Sports Football (14/05/25).

“For me, James is a fantastic player,” stated Hayes. “I have played with him and against him. He is probably the one winger that I played against in Scotland that I didn’t really enjoy.

“That kind of battle of sheer pace on the outside, when you play him on the right, and I played on the left. I didn’t enjoy it.

“He is so underrated. Criminally underrated. I know he is really decorated, but ask anybody who has worked with James Forrest how good he is when you see him in training, it’s frightening.

“He is a level above anybody else as a winger that has played in Scotland over the last couple of decades.”

Forrest’s stats for Celtic against Aberdeen

With Celtic’s title party against St Mirren coming up at the weekend, everyone is hoping that Rodgers keeps Forrest in his XI.

Everyone wants him to get that much-needed and historic goal, as he is doing everything possible to push that ball over the white line.

Against Aberdeen, he caused their backline all sorts of issues, and they couldn’t cope with his genius, speed and directness, with WhoScored handing him a rating of over eight.