Forrest will head to Ibrox with revenge on his mind

TOUCHING down in sweltering Dubai back in January, Celtic’s players were certainly feeling the heat. A first defeat in 13 Old Firm matches at Ibrox on December 29 had ensured a bitter end to 2018.

Level on points with Rangers at the top of the Premiership, a first proper top-flight title race in years looked on the cards. Even more so when Steven Gerrard pushed the boat out during the winter window to sign Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis on loan from Bournemouth and Southampton respectively.

For James Forrest and his Celtic team-mates, the disappointment of that loss in Govan would linger throughout their warm weather training camp.

But the hard workout in Dubai under Brendan Rodgers would prove the catalyst for a sizzling start to 2019 as Celtic burst out of the blocks with 11 consecutive wins domestically.

That consistency put the Parkhead club firmly back in the driving seat for eight-in-a-row, with their destination finally reached last weekend with a 3-0 win at Pittodrie.

Celtic have already exorcised their Old Firm ghosts by beating Rangers 2-1 at Parkhead in March.

But next on the agenda is a return to Ibrox on Sunday and Forrest (below) hopes for further atonement for that dark December defeat.

‘When we went to Dubai during the winter break, it was not the same as before because we had left after such a bad result,’ he said.

‘I think what made us play so well when we came back from Dubai was the fact that everyone was still really hurting from that game.

‘I am sure that when it comes to going back to Ibrox, the boys will be thinking about the last time we went there.’

Celtic’s lack of striking options that day saw youngster Mikey Johnston lead the line before making way for a notfully-fit Odsonne Edouard.

Rodgers was also forced into two early defensive changes through injuries, with Kristoffer Ajer replacing Filip Benkovic and

Anthony Ralston coming on for Mikael Lustig.

But Forrest believes a first defeat in an Old Firm game since the Scottish Cup semifinal exit on penalties in April 2016 taught the Celtic players a valuable, if bitter, lesson.

‘I know there were issues with the squad back then but I remember the manager at the time (Ronny Deila) saying the boys who hadn’t played in the team before would get good experience from the occasion.

‘And even the fact that it didn’t go the way we had hoped helped them.

‘The boys were hurting for a good few weeks from that game.

‘And whoever plays in the game this weekend will want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

‘We only have two games left in our league season and then the Scottish Cup final.

‘We need to make sure we do not let the campaign peter out.

‘We want to give ourselves confidence for starting next season by finishing strongly.’

Tonight, Forrest will be a keen observer of the Champions League semi-final between Ajax and Spurs in Amsterdam.

He believes Celtic can take heart next season from the adventures on a limited budget by the Dutch side, who have stylishly eliminated big clubs en-route to the last four.

‘A lot of people have talked about Ajax putting out teams like Real Madrid and Juventus,’ said Forrest. ‘I think a lot of the teams with lesser budgets will take a lot of confidence from that because Ajax have shown what can be done.’

While this Ajax team will break up in the summer, Forrest has no intention of leaving Celtic any time soon. The 27-yearold, who was this week named PFA Scotland Player of the Year, hopes to remain at Parkhead as long as possible. ‘Have I ever been tempted to leave? No!,’ he said. ‘A couple of years ago I had six months left on my contract — and that was the closest I came. There was uncertainty but I always wanted to stay.

‘I want to stay as long as I can.’