Martin O’Neill has addressed his decision to start James Forrest against Dunfermline.
The second of O’Neill’s iconic pair of interim spells concludes today, and he has decided to draft a fellow legendary figure into the starting XI in the shape of Forrest.
It’s the winger’s first start since April, and ironically comes against the man who gave him his break in football, in the shape of Neil Lennon.
Explaining his decision, this factor wasn’t lost on O’Neill.
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Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s James Forrest: ‘He’s been a great impact player’
O’Neill told BBC Sportsound: “Well, the irony of it all is that Neil Lennon gave him his chance in the game, away back all those years ago!
“James has been a great impact player for us this season.
READ MORE: Dunfermline’s Celtic-daft full-back Shea Kearney pinching himself for final
“An opportunity, here, maybe to start the match. We’ll see, like anything else, how long he lasts in the game.
“But he’s a very, very, very fine player, and it’s an opportunity for him, as for us.”
On his future, he said: “You know what? There hasn’t been any conversation about that, whatsoever. And I wasn’t expecting it.
“I think I told you a couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t expecting it. We’ve got here to the cup final, we’d love to win it. It would be really disappointing if we didn’t.
“But at the same token, it’s been fine. We’ll see what develops after that.”
Finally, on the occasion itself, O’Neill said: “Obviously, looking forward to the game. I never thought that this opportunity would happen to me at all, absolutely not.
“Then you get an opportunity in late October last year to come in, and then twice at Celtic during the course of the season, culminating now, here, in getting to the final.
“I’m delighted to be here, you know? It’s a competition that means an awful lot to me. And I will be desperately wanting to win the game.”
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