BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, WORN THE T-SHIRT!

Forrest has seen it all in a Celtic shirt and he’s quite sure Hoops can negotiate any hurdle to get into Champions League

JAMES FORREST insists Celtic can negotiate the Champions League high wire and safely stride all the way to the group stage.

The champions will face three one-off clashes in the qualifiers before a two-legged play-off to join Europe’s big guns this season as part of UEFA’S revamped competitions.

Forrest knows there is no margin of error for the Hoops and they cannot afford any off-nights if they are to get back to the groups for the first time in three seasons.

Celtic kick off their big in early August and Forrest said: “We were really good away from home in Europe last season. We beat Sarajevo and Nomme Kalju away and then scored in a draw with Cluj. We had a lot of good games.

“We would have gone through if they had been one-off matches last season.

“It will be different playing one-off ties and away games are always difficult. It can be a case of backs against the wall sometimes in

Europe when you are playing away from home. But we have managed to put in some big performances and big results in Europe, including against Lazio.”

Forrest is a Euro specialist for Celts with key goals in the qualifiers against AIK Stockholm and Cluj and in the Europa League group stages in the stunning win against Lazio.

The 28-year-old was gutted to miss out on the Champions League and then going down to Copenhagen in the last 32 of the

Europa following the highs of two wins over the Italians.

But he reckons Celtic will be stronger this time after their rollercoaster last term.

Forrest said: “There were disappointments in Europe last season, but there were a lot of positives as well.

“I scored in a few goals in European games last season and will obviously be trying to do so again if I can, but all of the lads have shown they are capable of scoring.

“Last season the European campaign was really positive – apart from just a couple of bad results against Cluj and Copenhagen.

“We did really well in our Europa League group. We played really well away to Copenhagen.

“But we didn’t do ourselves justice at home.

“When you are at Celtic, the league is the most important thing. But you are always expected to get into the Champions League and put in big performances in Europe as well. That is always going to be there.

“The players all want to build on what we achieved in the Europa League last season.”

Forrest has watched old Parkhead pal Kieran Tierney get back to action with Arsenal and can’t wait to do the same in Scotland.

He said: “It’s positive when you see football in Germany, Spain and England starting back again.

“We have been close to KT for quite a few years so all the boys were buzzing. I am sure he will do really well once he gets going down there.”