‘This Celtic squad is good enough for the Premier League’
Second time around, Celtic keeper Forster is convinced Lennon’s blend of youth and experience could make a decent fist of life in English top flight
THERE truly is no substitute for experience. Not just the wisdom which comes with the passing of time. But actually acquiring a fuller understanding of a situation by immersing oneself within it.
Domiciled at Southampton of late, the fact that Celtic’s trophy triumphs seemed to be on a Sky Sports loop gave Fraser Forster a decent hint that his former club were thriving in his absence.
With the exception of Scott Brown and James Forrest, the names had changed since the 31-year-old was last in the building. Yet the historic hoarding of nine straight Scottish honours pointed towards the highest of standards being upheld.
One month on from returning to Glasgow, initially on a one-year loan, Forster has cause to re-evaluate his estimation of what he was stepping back into.
The evidence of his own eyes has seen to that.
‘I’ve been surprised at just how good they are,’ he said. ‘I knew there was a good squad here the second I came through the door but until you see people in training day in day out and see what they can do...
‘The young lads especially are so talented. As they gather that experience, they are going to get better and better. Ryan Christie has been brilliant.
‘Even from that first game I watched (AIK Stockholm), he was so positive. Everything he does, he looks to get turned and play up the pitch.
‘Odsonne Edouard is such an exciting talent. He’s another one when you see him in training, you really appreciate his quality.
‘He has a knack for scoring big goals in big games. We’ve got such a good mix of youth and experience.
‘And within that, we have got so much quality too.’
So much so that the England international (right) would have no fears as to how Celtic would cope if faced with the task of competing against the big guns of English football on a weekly basis. ‘I think we’d do all right,’ said Forster. ‘Looking at our dressing room, there’s no reason why we wouldn’t have a comfortable season in the Premier League. ‘I definitely don’t see this as being a step own or backwards. ‘I have come here to win trophies and compete at the top of the league.
‘Not many people in football get to go out and do that and try to win competitions.’
Moments after watching his side draw 1-1 in Rennes last week, Neil Lennon compared them with the team he led to the same scoreline there eight years before.
That was a line-up including Joe Ledley, Victor Wanyama, Ki Sung-yueng and Forster himself.
The nucleus of the outfit which would beat Barcelona a year later. Yet, in Lennon’s view, the current team are markedly superior.
‘I probably would agree,’ said Forster. ‘We have a really good team.
‘We can be very positive about this squad and results like in Rennes can only help us.
‘There are a lot of young players coming through and they are getting great experience. Facing a different style in the Europa League can only help them.’
Domestically, a perfect start to the Premiership campaign — including Sunday’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock — has not yet opened up daylight between Celtic and Rangers, with Steven Gerrard’s team still only three points adrift after six matches.
Despite coming up short in the Old Firm game at Ibrox, Rangers have won their other matches — a sharp contrast with their sloppy start to last season.
Forster says Celtic remain unperturbed by the challenge from across the city.
‘We’re just concentrating on ourselves,’ he said. ‘We know the level we can play at.
‘We’re just trying to make sure we play at that level as often as we can. We can’t control what Rangers are doing and vice versa. They had a good result in Europe as well. They are a good team with good players.
‘We know they are going to keep winning, so we need to keep winning.’
Forster has played every domestic game since returning to Glasgow but might make way for Craig Gordon in tomorrow’s Betfred Cup quarter-final tie against Partick Thistle.
Determined to play all the time after featuring just once in 20 months for Southampton, however, he said: ‘I’ve had a gap year, so I’ve had enough rest!
‘I don’t know yet (who’s playing). It’s just recovery today and then the manager will pick the team tomorrow.’
If Gordon’s ongoing omission illustrates how harsh top-level sport can be, Forster certainly has not put a foot wrong.
In denying Alan Power from the spot on Sunday, he saved Lennon an anxious end to the match and extended his own record of penalty saves to a remarkable 13 from 34.
‘It’s a nice stat but I need to get it up a bit,’ he smiled. ‘There’s not really a secret to it. We just work hard on them in training.
‘The more you face, the more ideas you get, but I go with my gut feeling. It’s always nice to contribute to a win.
‘We started the second half really well and were bang at it for 20 minutes.
‘It was our best spell in the game and we went 3-1 up but then we had some injuries and the game got broken up a bit.
‘Ultimately, that’s what I’m there to do — make a couple of saves.’ It seems as if Forster’s only regret is not moving back to Celtic sooner. ‘I’m absolutely loving it,’ he said. ‘One of the great things about being here is there are so many games — and playing twice a week is brilliant. ‘Once you’re on a good run as well, it’s great just having that next game to look forward to.’