Celtic mainstay Forrest is ignoring the critics; could have big part to play in title race

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It feels like every season, at some stage, Celtic winger James Forrest gets written off.

I’m guilty of it myself. Despite the Celtic Academy graduate almost always managing to redeem himself from bad form, or injury lay-offs, the temptation is always there. We get into discourse about what happens to wingers when they turn 30, can guys like Forrest still be effective, and so on.

That’s only amplified by the recruitment Ange Postecoglou has done at Celtic. Liel Abada has been, for me at least, one of the best value signings any club made in 21-22. Karamoko Dembele is in the first-team picture again, and rightly so.

Still, in recent games, Ange Postecoglou has turned to James Forrest, and it’s worked. Against Livingston, he was excellent, getting ever-closer to 100 goals for Celtic with a strike past Strycek. Against Dundee United, Celtic showed that ruthlessness needed to see off teams; Forrest was a part of that, for sure.

The guy’s longevity cannot be overstated. He’s scored in 13 successive league campaigns. That’s ridiculous. And as he gets stuck in to what could be the tightest title race he’s been involved in at Celtic, he’s made himself known again.

What he’s added – albeit, incrementally – is a key feature of Ange Postecoglou’s methodology: he’s winning the ball. Against Livingston, he made 3 recoveries, and won some ground duels to keep Celtic in possession [Fotmob]. Even against Bodo/Glimt, a game where nobody was particularly impressive, he recovered the ball 6 times, mirroring Daizen Maeda’s impact on the other flank [Fotmob].

Foremost, though, he was experience. Yes, he might still look cherubic, but he’s been there and done that with Celtic. Forrest might not be a bawler or shouter, but he knows what’s required. That’ll be vital.

James Forrest has attributes to push Celtic forward in title race

All the stuff he was good at before, crossing the ball, getting shots away – that’s not exactly left him. And though, yes, he’s either been injured or lacking sharpness for much of the season, he’s shown in consecutive games that he’s fit and able to contribute.

Most of the action against Dundee United came down Maeda’s side, but Forrest showed both an ability to link up well with Juranovic and O’Riley, but utter urgency in getting back to help defensively. It’d be fair to say that hasn’t always been his game.

It’s easier for Ange Postecoglou to have drilled in certain attitudes and approaches for young or newer Celtic players. For the likes of McGregor, Forrest and the like, though, the expectations on them are radically different. As a manager, getting that right without alienating players is tricky.

After all, Forrest’s medal haul at Celtic would suggest he knows what he’s doing.

We may not see blockbuster stats from James Forrest. If he does manage to creep up to 100 goals and 100 assists for Celtic, he’ll be celebrated, and quite rightly so.

In seasons and triumphs past, James Forrest has been one of the leading men for Celtic, at the forefront of exciting attacks. To a degree, Forrest can still be that, especially with 8 league games left, and potentially two more trips to Hampden – where he’s more than comfortable.

This season, his role is a little different. But he’s coming into form at the right time, and with his considerable experience and winning attitude, he could be just as important as anyone else in that Celtic dressing room. Perhaps more so.

He’s continually written off. This season, especially. If he’s lifting silverware come May though, he won’t care in the slightest.

Read more: Celtic unbeaten run seemed unfeasible when season started; now it’s barely discussed