BOUNTY HUNTER FORREST SHOWS HE STILL HAS THAT VITAL SPARK:
THE same venue. The same competition. The same nationality of opposition. For James Forrest, though, so much else has changed over the three years since he spread the most joyous form of bedlam around Celtic Park.
Had Forrest been offered a glimpse of the future after scoring that unforgettable injury-time winner against shakhter Karagandy, it might just have dimmed some of the celebratory fireworks.
Countless injury issues, fluctuating form and the rejection of a contract extension have all combined to diminish the winger’s standing. Having been the provider of Champions League group-stage football, and emerging as a key figure for both club and country, Forrest gradually became an increasingly peripheral presence.
Yet here he was again. selected by Brendan Rodgers with another £20million bounty on the line. Another opponent from the nouveau riche of Kazakhstan standing as the obstacle to be overcome.
Thankfully for Celtic, there would be a similar outcome to 2013. Even if this time it was Moussa Dembele providing the last-gasp decider. The play-off round now beckons.
That was the obvious collective aim. But this was also a huge opportunity for Forrest. out of contract at the end of this year, what better stage to persuade Rodgers it was worth returning to the negotiating table? To show, when the pressure is on, that he is still capable of provide the creative spark to ignite Celtic.
Come full-time, it hadn’t been a bad contribution. Neither had it been particularly worthy. Will it be enough for Forrest? The coming weeks will tell.
Certainly, the planned arrival of scott sinclair from Aston Villa — already the subject of four unsuccessful bids — would add a first-choice winger to the squad, increasing the competition he would face.
Realising that Forrest is now 25 years old can cause a startle. He is no longer the promising prodigy of Parkhead. Time has moved on while his plethora of fitness issues have often left him in something akin to suspended animation. Whether here or elsewhere, Forrest should be entering the peak years of his career.
There were flickers of early promise last night. A dip of the shoulder and drive down the line beyond Abzal Beysebekov was prime Forrest, the defender completely undone by his acceleration.
There was an end product, too, with a cut-back into the heart of the Astana area. First, Callum Mcgregor couldn’t control. Then it broke away from Leigh griffiths.
But Forrest had executed his part of the plan. His combinations with Kieran Tierney were stressing the Kazakhs.
A little tease of Yuri Logvinenko drew a free-kick in a threatening position. Again, though, Celtic could not capitalise as stuart Armstrong’s delivery was cleared. Not long after, Igor shitov became the game’s first booking for grappling Forrest to the ground as they jumped for a header.
While Forrest foraged on the left, there was anguish for Celtic on the opposite flank as Patrick Roberts was lost to injury after 31 minutes.
The Manchester City loanee brings the unexpected, the X-factor, to this side. It was witnessed in the first leg when Roberts set up griffiths for the precious away goal that was packed securely on the seven-hour flight home from Kazakhstan.
There had been little glimpses of that sparkle again, only for gloom to replace them when the 19-yearold clutched at his hamstring.
stefan Johansen’s introduction in his place forced a reshuffle, with Forrest moving to the right and stuart Armstrong drifting further left.
The relocations unsettled Celtic before assurance was restored before the break — as Astana’s drained away.
Tierney was sent crashing to the ground when he industriously pursued a high ball, nicking ahead of the permanently toiling Beysebekov. A penalty was earned. griffiths despatched with confidence.
still, a second goal was required to alleviate nerves. And that anxiety, slowly edging its way around the stadium, reached a peak when Roger Canas bundled in — only for an assistant referee’s flag to rule it out.
The incident caused Astana coach stanimir stoilov, normally as expressive as an undertaker nursing the flu, to bolt from the bench. And his celebrations were only delayed until substitute Agim Ibraimi punished Craig gordon’s headed clearance with a terrific finish from fully 40 yards.
Kolo Toure had been introduced to shore things up as part of a new back three, but Celtic now looked short in midfield.
That levelling of the scores thrust the tie into a new, decisive phase. Forrest attempted to reassert himself but was halted by a brutal foul from serikzhan Muzhikov that drew another yellow card. Astana, whose body clocks were now at 2am Kazakh time, weren’t sluggish when it came to leaving a boot in.
Forrest then used his left foot to fire one just over the bar. But it would prove a last meaningful involvement as Dembele was introduced from the bench.
How fateful that switch proved. In 2016, it would be the young Frenchman’s joy that shone brightest.