Forrest says Old Firm win would be icing on cake

Victory over Rangers at Celtic Park would cap fine first half of season for club and player

James Forrest wants Celtic to end a great year and a fruitful first-half of the season with an Old Firm triumph over Rangers on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers’ treble-winning side of last season are once more setting the pace in the Ladbrokes Premiership. They have the Betfred Cup back in the trophy room, and a Europa League tie against Zenit St Petersburg to look forward to next month.

Since losing out 4-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle to end their 69-game unbeaten domestic run, Celtic have taken nine points from nine without conceding a goal.

The 26-year-old Scotland winger scored his 12th goal of the season in the 2-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park on Boxing Day.

The visit of the Light Blues will be the Parkhead side’s ninth game this month, and Forrest is looking for victory against their city rivals at Celtic Park before the top flight closes for the winter break.

He said: “It’s been a great first half to the season.

“We’ve hit all our goals so far, so to finish it off on Saturday with a win would be really good.

“We’re still in Europe after Christmas so that’s a big boost for us when we come back.

“But we’ve got one last big push and we’ll give it our all.

“When we’re at our best it’s hard for anyone who plays us.

“We just need to start well and work hard and we’re ready to do that.”

Forrest believes Celtic have recovered their confidence since the shock defeat in Gorgie.

The former Hoops youth player said: “Fair play to Hearts, they were better than us on the day and we know we could have done better.

“But we didn’t get ourselves down,” he added.

“We’ve kept going and we’ve picked up some good results.

“We’ve been really solid. We’ve been defending from the front, and the back four have been really solid in the last couple of games.”

Meanwhile, Celtic confirmed last night that winger Jonny Hayes suffered a broken leg in a tackle with Dundee’s Josh Meekings in the Boxing Day game at Dens Park.

Republic of Ireland international Hayes, 30, and Dundee defender Meekings, 25, both went off after coming together in a challenge.

Meekings was able to hobble off but was on crutches after the game.

“We’ve hit all our goals so far, so to finish it off on Saturday with a win would be really good. JAMES FORREST

Picture: Getty. James Forrest celebrates after scoring the opening goal at Dens Park. The Hoops winger says Celtic have hit all their targets so far this season.