"Real big impact"; James Forrest lauds Celtic coach Harry Kewell for Lennoxtown influence

By Lewis Laird

January 18, 2023

Celtic winger James Forrest has praised the impact Harry Kewell has made at the club since joining Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff in the summer.

The 31-year-old is the current longest-serving player at Parkhead, having come through the academy and making his Hoops debut in 2009.

Forrest has played under a whole host of managers and coaches, lifting 20 trophies during his successful 14-year stay with the club.

The Scotland international continues to have an impact for the Bhoys in 2023 and offers much-needed experience in Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

This season, the wideman has made 17 appearances in domestic and European action, scoring five goals and providing two assists.

However, Forrest’s season started off a little slower than many of his other Celtic teammates as he prepared to fight for his place in the squad.

Thankfully for the winger, he was able to rely upon the help of a new addition to Ange Postecoglou’s staff in the summer, Harry Kewell.

The former Leeds and Liverpool man is regarded as one of the best players to come out of Australia and had a successful career south of the border.

In June, the Champions League winner became the first new addition to Ange Postecoglou’s squad, and it appears he is having a big impact on the wingers at Parkhead, having had a strong career as a player in that position.

Speaking ahead of the Bhoys fixture against St Mirren later on this evening, Forrest praised Harry Kewell for having ‘a real big impact’ at the club.

The 38-time capped international revealed that the legendary Socceroo has been doing a lot of work with the wide players at Lennoxtown, staying behind to work on aspects of their game.

He said [Celtic TV]: “Definitely for myself; I think he (Harry Kewell) helped me really early on, at the start (of the season).

“Maybe when it was like one game a week, for the first four weeks, and I didn’t really feature that much. But I think for myself; he has still made me feel apart of it.

“Even though I am one of the older players as well, that’s still really good that was taking me aside after training and doing extras with you because he wanted you to do well when you do get a chance.

“Especially because he does loads of drills with wingers, obviously that’s where he played. So I think for me and the other wingers as well, having spoken to them, he’s had a real big impact.”

Ange Postecoglou’s move to bring Kewell to Celtic in the summer proves to be brilliant success.

There are many thrilling aspects of this current Celtic squad and the free-flowing football they have been playing under Ange Postecoglou.

But one of the most exciting parts of this team is the involvement of our wingers in the attacking play, which leaves Scottish opposition struggling to contain the Hoops.

Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada, Jota, Sead Haksabanovic and James Forrest have all had game-winning impacts this season and look to have improved on certain areas of their game.

There is no coincidence that these improvements coincide with the arrival of Harry Kewell to Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff.

Both Forrest and Maeda has spoken out about the fantastic impact the former winger is having, bringing experience of playing over 300 games at the highest level in the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League to the Hoops.

It looks to have been another fantastic addition to the club by the Celtic manager, and here’s hoping the Australian coach can continue working closely to help players improve.

In other news, More strange VAR goings-on as Scottish Cup officials revealed; Celtic vs Morton to get full treatment.