FORREST PLAYING AT ‘TOP OF HIS GAME’
HOOPS assistant Chris Davies believes James Forrest is finally getting the recognition he deserves after putting in arguably his best Celtic performance this week.
The Celtic winger impressed in Tuesday’s defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and teed up Callum McGregor as the Parkhead side briefly drew level against the Germans.
Parity proved to be short-lived but Forrest was excellent throughout, with Davies delighted to see the Celtic youth academy graduate take a bow in the limelight.
“James is playing at the top of his game,” said Davies. “Looking at Tuesday in isolation, that performance was of a very high level.
“He was fantastic. He was up against one of the best left-backs in the world.
“You look at his receiving of the ball, his touch, technique, the passes and the detail on his passes, the way he was running, whether it was his decision-making when to dribble or take the ball inside.
“The quality of the ball
for Stuart Armstrong’s early chance at the back post was top class.
“The lift for Callum’s goal was top class. It was all great technique.
“James has got really good technique. We have had loads of good attacking players here in the last 17 months and he is someone who maybe doesn’t get spoken about as much as the other guys.
“He’s such a humble lad, who does his best every time he plays, and he’s a very good player.
“It’s important when he has nights like that it’s recognised, because sometimes it doesn’t when you come through the academy and others are being signed.
“Since we’ve been here he’s played a lot of games because he does all the things that we want in terms of pressing the ball and he works really hard for you.
“He’s got a really good touch and decision making with the ball. That position he’s playing there as well is really suiting his profile – like a wing-back – as he does both roles.
“Don’t forget, away from the assists on Tuesday, James defended well at the far post, clearing the ball with his head twice and he’s had to defend one v one. He brought a lot to the game.”
Meanwhile, Davies has insisted that Celtic remain focussed on getting the third place in the group – but maintained that they won’t take it for granted. That result would enable them to remain in European football after Christmas as they would parachute into the Europa League knock-out stage, an opportunity that would enable them to continue their education.
However, while it is not the premier tier it remains a formidable competition, as Davies was keen to point out.
“We are not in the Europa League yet, we’ve got to qualify,” he said.
“Our objective was European football after Christmas, and can you finish third. We were pot four so to get third would be very good.
“In the last two years there’s been 16 groups drawn in the Champions League – eight each year – and we couldn’t have had a harder two to get out of.
“The top two sides have been absolute powerhouses.
“We needed a bit of a kinder draw to get through.
“If you look at the Europa League, there are sides like Arsenal – who have the same budget as Bayern – there’s Lazio, who are doing well in Serie A, Lyon, who beat Everton.
“These are very good sides and there are others, so it’s shaping up as a strong competition.
“If we can finish third and get there it’s a sign of progression for us and the performances we’ve put in.”