SCOTT CAN BE A PERFECT FIT
Allan has the ability to take Celts squad to next level, says Forrest
FOR Rangers supporters, the best hope was of a hitch. An epiphany or change of heart which might prompt Scott Allan to cut short his medical and call off a move to Celtic.
It didn’t happen. James Forrest, a former Scotland Under-21 international team-mate, never thought it would. In modern football, boyhood allegiances are no match for European football and a substantial pay rise.
‘We’re the champions and we’re trying to get into the Champions League,’ said Forrest. ‘Scott is a player with ambitions and he’ll want to come and play with Celtic. I doubt whether he’ll even be thinking twice about it.’
Allan himself said nothing publicly on his wish to join Rangers. Nudges and winks from accomplices were followed by a transfer request to Hibernian in a bid to force the issue. The timing of a picture of the 23-year-old on a night out with half the Ibrox first team — a historic picture, it should be said — merely added to the impression his mind was made up.
He was frustrated and thwarted in the end by Hibs’ outright refusal to sell to a promotion rival.
The question will be asked of the player at an anticipated Celtic unveiling on Monday. It’s unlikely to be the easiest press conference of his life, yet Allan is hardly the first Rangers supporter to pledge his future to Celtic. It never did Kenny Dalglish or Danny McGrain much harm.
‘If he does sign, once you start playing games, then everything gets forgotten about,’ stated Forrest.
‘I am sure the fans will be right behind him because he will be a really good player for Celtic.’
How good or how valuable remains to be seen. Celtic believe Allan has raw talent, but where he fits in to the team is unclear. Stef an J ohansen a nd Kris Commons already occupy his most natural position behind the striker in the number 10 role.
At Rangers, he might have been an automatic starter. The same can hardly be said in a squad where Scott Brown, Nir Bitton, Johansen, Commons, Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Forrest all find themselves competing with the new Bhoy for a slot.
Yet, Forrest believes his former international colleague adds an eye f or a pass to the SPFL champions. A dimension they don’t necessarily have in abundance.
‘We have got a lot of competition for places and Scott does bring something different, which is obviously good for us overall.
‘He’ll be confident in his ability and knows he can come here and do a job — and I’m sure he can.
‘It’s good for all the players. They can’t rest on what they’ve done and need to keep pushing on and show the gaffer what they can do.
‘I’ve trained with Scott a couple of times and I’ve played with him for the Under-21s, he’s a really good player.
‘And you saw when he played a few games for Dundee United, and obviously at Hibs last season, that he has ability.
‘He’s technically good and is just the type of player that will be good for Celtic.’
There were some at Parkhead who took some convincing. A reflection, perhaps, of concerns over his work-rate and ability or willingness to press opponents as Ronny Deila demands. When assistant manager John Collins watched Allan’s last display for Hibs, it was in a 2-1 defeat at Dumbarton last weekend.
Also, the playmaker has not proved to be a huge success everywhere he has been. West Brom sent him out on loan after an underwhelming stay in England.
At a fee for his services of around £275,000 plus players, however, Allan represents a low-risk gamble. If he doesn’t work out, Celtic lose little. If he does, the anguish felt by arch rivals Rangers at his loss will be intensified.
‘A club like Celtic is massive and the fans are tremendous,’ added Forrest. ‘Any player who comes in will need to do the same as the boys who are here and give everything.
‘He is a terrific player. He has got a lot of flair, he is good going forward and technically sound.
‘He is the type of player Celtic look for and he will fit in well.
‘A big club like Celtic are always looking to bring in players of top quality and I am sure that Scotty can come here and do really well.’
Wednesday night’s draw with Kilmarnock suggested Allan is unlikely to take Forrest’s place in the team on current form.
After a lengthy period of intense frustration over niggling, persistent injuries, the Scotland international looked more like himself at Rugby Park.
Watched by Malmo coach Age Hareide, there was a glimpse of the explosive wing play of old.
‘The last seven or eight months I have felt better,’ Forrest admitted. ‘Every time I play I am getting better. I have had a lot of games, I have been playing a lot more, and training a lot more, and it all seems to be helping.
‘I struggled when the gaffer first came in for a couple of months but I thank him for that because he gave me a couple of months to get myself right. Now I just want to repay the faith he showed in me.
‘Every player will tell you that injury is the worst thing — you just want to be out there training and playing games. I am not going to tell you any different.’
Deila has already earmarked this as a big year for Forrest, arguably the most explosive talent at the club. Getting to the nub of the problems which threatened to derail his Celtic career were crucial to rebooting his game.
‘All the boys have got their own way of treating things, Forrest added. ‘As you get a wee bit older, a wee bit more experienced, I think you learn to treat things a bit differently. I just want to keep training and playing games.
‘It was nothing serious I had, just niggles here and there. All the boys will tell you — I just needed a bit of good luck, but the last seven or eight months things have been a lot better and I hope that just keeps going.
‘Any player can get injured — it is part and parcel of football these days.
‘But the more games you play, the more confident you get, the more you feel part of it. There is no hiding from that.’