Callum McGregor’s classy captain tribute to long-time pal and Celtic teammate James Forrest

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Trophy Day has been and gone as Celtic lifted the Scottish Premiership title once again in front of a packed out Paradise.

St Mirren were in town for the final league match of the season as the Bhoys played their last game before next week’s Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen.

Captain Callum McGregor hoisted the trophy for a fourth year in a row having taken over the skipper’s duties from Scott Brown in 2021.

It is his 24th major domestic honour with the Hoops, but it is number 26 for Celtic’s most decorated player of all-time, James Forrest.

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McGregor hails Celtic ‘legend’ Forrest

McGregor and Forrest are just two years apart and came through the Hoops academy together.

They have gone from promising youngsters to Celtic icons across the last 15 years and McGregor has been paying tribute to Forrest on Trophy Day.

McGregor thinks his old pal Forrest is the perfect role model for any young kid coming through the youth ranks at the club and has shown it is possible to fulfil your dreams – and then some.

The Celtic skipper told Celtic TV: “What’s amazing is the fact James and I have come through the academy. For any of the young lads watching, they now see the platform you can have and what you can actually go on to achieve.

“The Lisbon Lions felt like myths and legends that you could never get close to, and now James and I are in that bracket. We’ve been really successful Celtic players and now it feels normal.

“If I win another one and another one, then the numbers just keep going. It helps normalise it for me and James. Hopefully, now the next guys coming through will see that as well.

“James has been an unbelievable servant for the club. Legend is the term we can use for him because he is out there on his own.

“Even the other night, his level of performance was so, so high. He helps the team so much. It could not happen to a better guy.

“He’s so humble, the way he lives his life and the way he goes about his business. He is just the perfect example for young guys to follow.”

McGregor and Forrest’s stats for Celtic

Forrest has played slightly more games than McGregor for Celtic, but you would imagine the captain will overtake his winger teammate soon.

With 526 matches under his belt, Forrest is still a long way from breaching the top 10 for Celtic players with the most appearances for the club.

Bobby Hogg is 10th on that list with 575 appearances. Is that still possible for Jamesy?

Forrest stats

McGregor stats

McGregor is probably more likely to reach the top 10 given he is still only 31. What is more impressive is his 74 goal haul for the club as a holding midfielder.