Forrest backed to make it to the Euros

JOHN KENNEDY last night insisted that Celtic winger James Forrest can play his way into the Scotland squad for Euro 2020 in the final three games of the season.

The interim Parkhead manager expressed confidence that Steve Clarke, who can now select 26 players for the tournament following a UEFA ruling, will be keen to have Forrest involved in June.

And he backed the 35-times capped 29-yearold to add a cutting edge to the country’s attack in the Group D matches against the Czech Republic, England and Croatia gets the nod.

Forrest spent nearly six months out this season after suffering an ankle injury against Riga in Latvia in September, only made his return last month and picked up a back injury a fortnight ago.

However, he has now recovered and is available for selection to face Rangers in the Premiership match at Ibrox tomorrow.

Kennedy is confident the Scot can do enough in the Old Firm match and then the encounters with St Johnstone and Hibernian to get a call-up.

“I think he can,” he said. “When he came back, he had a setback with his injury, but when he came back from that he quickly hit the levels that we know he is capable of. I thought he performed very well.

“It was very minor what he got. It’s not something to be overly worried about in terms of an ongoing issue. It was a very minor injury you can get coming back from being out long-term. He has been back in training very quickly so he’s available for the weekend.

“He has given Celtic great service over the years and he’s still got that level in him. He’s certainly had big moments with Scotland as well.

“I think having a player of James’s calibre in your squad going into a tournament in the summer would add to the attacking intent. That ability to go one v one and create is important in big games.” if he