O’NEILL’S READY TO ROHL

Forrest: Players thrilled to have him back.. I just hope he doesn’t expect me to be a Didier Agathe!

JAMES FORREST signed for Celtic in the same year that Martin O’Neill’s revolution kicked in at Parkhead.

The nearest the nine-year-old academy kid got to the legendary manager back then was as a ball boy on match day.

But Forrest – who graduated to become the club’s most decorated player of all time – was schooled in the Hoops traditions during those five years when O’Neill delivered seven trophies, including three titles.

Now, even at 34, Forrest admits he’s in awe to get to call the iconic Irishman “boss”.

And 25 years on from those early touches as a young Bhoy, the winger hung on every word of O’Neill’s first team-talk after the veteran’s sensational return to fill the void left by Brendan Rodgers. Well, almost every word. As O’Neill looks to turn the clock back by guiding Hoops to victory over Rangers at Hampden this afternoon, Forrest admits there’s one aspect of the Northern Irishman’s old Celtic masterplan that terrifies him.

Being asked to fill the “Didier Agathe role” by running the entire right wing.

Half-joking, he said: “Aye that was what I was worrying about when he came in – I haven’t got the legs for that!

“He keeps comparing my age with his age – but I don’t know if I have that in me anymore.

“But, even for me as an older player, you can take great confidence from hearing him tell you he has watched you over the years.

“It makes you feel good. You do need that feedback sometimes as a footballer.

“I’d actually never met O’Neill before. But you know what he’s done here, so it’s incredible to have him back overseeing things. He spoke with us for like 10-15 minutes in the morning of the game on Wednesday. You could just see all the boys bought into what he was saying.

“I’ve had really good managers and been involved with great players and stuff over the years. But the aura when he was in the room – it meant everybody was tuned in and that’s what he deserves.

“He was so positive, he was praising the lads and being really confident.

“And that was maybe what the lads needed on the morning of the game because it was a difficult 48 hours. O’Neill just made it really light-hearted.

“He was going round the lads and telling us that there’s winners in the changing room – just bigging us up. It really hit home

“You could tell that the lads, by the way we went out on Wednesday night (a 4-0 win over Falkirk), were really a team.”

As excited as Forrest is to work under O’Neill, he admits the exit of Rodgers and long-standing assistant John Kennedy has been tough.

An incredible 11 of his record-breaking 26 major honours were won with Rodgers as boss.

And, as he looks to take a step closer to trophy number 27, Forrest admitted the departure of the Northern Irishman was a sad day.

He said: “Oh definitely. I’ve had Brendan for two different spells now and had some of my best football under him.

“And obviously Kendo as well. I’ve known him for so many years and don’t think anyone at the club can say a bad word about him.”

Hoops chiefs moved quickly to replace Rodgers while Shaun Maloney has stepped up from player pathway manager to assist.

And Forrest reckons the former Wigan and Hibs manager was destined to return to Parkhead where he enjoyed two spells as a player.

He said: “I think the combination of him with Martin is a good one.”

It’s not just Celtic with a new voice in the dugout this afternoon as Danny Rohl prepares for his first Old Firm game just two-and-a-half weeks after taking over at Rangers.

And Forrest said: “There has never been a normal Celtic v Rangers game.

“There is often stuff that has not happened before – like this one, where both managers have been replaced in the last couple of weeks.

“It is down to the players and staff to get together to make sure we get a positive result.”

HISTORY BHOYS James Forrest, also below with Martin O’Neill, has had lots of success at Celtic