FORREST JUMP
Wing wizard reborn under Rodgers as he adds goals to a repertoire never fully appreciated in formative years with Deila at the helm
COMPELLING evidence of Celtic’s malaise under Ronny Deila was never in short supply. Closed upper tiers became the norm in European games at Parkhead. Domestic success was sporadic and unconvincing.
Public sightings of James Forrest came to mirror much of what was — or more pointedly wasn’t — going on behind the scenes.
Unable to fully rid himself of the injury concerns that had plagued his teenage years, the winger cut a forlorn figure at times as he contributed just four goals in 29 games in the Norwegian manager’s first season in charge at Celtic.
By the time January 2016 arrived, the midway point in Deila’s second term, Forrest had hit the net just once.
The smart money was on his departure from the east end of Glasgow under freedom of contract that summer.
The sliding-doors moment arrived on a day of abject misery for the Parkhead club.
Tom Rogic’s missed penalty in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers in April of that year sealed Deila’s exit and paved the way for Brendan Rodgers’ appointment.
Among the Northern Irishman’s first acts as manager was to ensure that both Aussie midfielder Rogic and Scotland international Forrest were secured to long-term deals.
His faith has been repaid and then some.
Forrest struck eight times last season and took his tally for this term to 11 with a smart finish against Hamilton Accies in a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.
In terms of a goal return, his running total for a season-and-ahalf under Rodgers is now closing in on the 26 he managed in the five previous terms.
‘It’s the most I’ve ever scored in a season and I just want to keep going,’ said the 26-year-old wide man. ‘We’re only halfway through the campaign and I want to get better.
‘When the manager came in 18 months ago he let the forward players have a bit of freedom and he wants everyone to add goals to their game.
‘I’m glad I’ve done that and contributed to the team. It’s a team game and, for the manager, it’s good to get goals from all over the park.
‘Scoring helps my confidence and I just want it to continue.’
Forrest’s goals tally for a wide player is highly commendable and has been instrumental in Celtic’s bandwagon rolling on to 69 domestic games unbeaten.
It has also offset a drop-off in front of goal from last season’s top contributors.
Moussa Dembele, who managed 32 last term, only has eight at this stage while Leigh Griffiths is still nine strikes shy of the 20 he hit a year ago.
Forrest, though, is mindful that pride often comes before a fall.
‘The amount of goals they score, I don’t say anything,’ he insisted.
‘Nothing much has been said. When they play they are always a goal threat, too.’ Despite not quite hitting the same heights as last term, Scott Sinclair’s tally of 15 is certainly no grounds for reproach. The English winger, remarkably, reached 25 in his first season in Glasgow. So much for a fall from grace. Asked about a perceived dip in team-mate Sinclair’s form, Forrest replied: ‘It’s not what we think in the changing room. He’s our top scorer and he looks sharp. He’s ready for every game and he’s a great player to have in the team.’ Such in-house competition is never unhelpful. Having already recorded a personal best by Christmas with his 11 goals, Forrest could — with a fair wind at his back — yet trouble the quarter-century tally that Sinclair racked up last season.
‘Honestly, I’ve not thought about it,’ he insisted. ‘This is the first year I’ve hit double figures so the target for me is the next game and to try and add another goal.
‘I want to score as many as I can. Scotty’s record last season was tremendous and, even this season, he’s scoring and is always a threat. I think that’s what I’ve copied but I need to keep adding goals to my game.’
The finishes of both wingers against Hamilton Accies on Wednesday evening were, in their own way, eye-catching.
Yet none could compare with the howitzer of a volley Olivier Ntcham unleashed to open the scoring.
A £4.5million buy from Manchester City in the summer, the young Frenchman seemed completely at ease in Glasgow’s mid-winter chill.
His five-goal contribution from a midfield Rodgers has frequently shaken up is a solid foundation as he begins to find his feet at his new club.
‘He has come in the last few games and he has looked really good,’ reflected Forrest. ‘He’s a good player and he’s chipped in with a couple of goals — and that’s brilliant for everyone.
‘I think even when he came in at the start he played well from the word go. We have competition for places in the middle of the park and he’s come in and done well.
‘There’s no language barrier as he speaks English really well and that’s a plus for him. He is quiet but he’s good with all the boys and he speaks away fine.
‘The fact his English is so good means he’s settled in.’ C ELTIC were, again, not quite at their best against Hamilton yet still ran out deserved winners. Repeatedly gleaning three points from such skirmishes has been turned into something of an art form during an unbeaten run which will hit 70 if they avoid defeat against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.
‘They (Hamilton) came out and made it hard for us and once they equalised it was important we got back ahead quickly,’ said Forrest.
‘It was good we managed to do that. I think it was important after the Hibs game on Sunday (a 2-2 draw) that we got the three points and a few goals to feel good about ourselves again.’
In dropping two points in Leith after being two goals to the good going into the latter stages, Celtic unquestionably looked fatigued.
Rodgers responded by sparing three international campaigners in Kieran Tierney, Mikael Lustig and Jozo Simunovic on Wednesday. Other key players are likely to be rested in the five games that lead to the winter break.
The hope for the chasing pack is that some irregular combination somehow gives them a glimmer of hope to stop the run in its tracks.
Celtic’s objective is to block out any shards of light.
‘We’ve got a strong squad with players for every position and the manager knows he can rotate it,’ said Forrest. ‘We have five games to go before the break and we’re just looking forward to the next game.’