Lennon welcomes back Forrest with open arms
JAMES FORREST must feel like the man who pops out for a pint of milk and returns to discover his house is nothing but smouldering ruins. When the winger hobbled off in Riga in late September, Celtic were in the middle of their best form of the season with their stranglehold over the domestic honours as tight as ever. In the 29-year-old’s injury-enforced absence, the landscape has dramatically changed. As Forrest nears his first-team return, possibly even at Perth tomorrow, it can be taken as read that his value to the side won’t be underestimated again. ‘Any team would miss a player of that quality,’ said Celtic manager Neil Lennon. ‘His contribution to this club has been unbelievable, magnificent, and certainly in my time since coming back. I think before the lockdown he was up around 16 goals and probably as many assists as well and he’s been doing that consistently for the best part of six or seven years. He’s had a stellar career so far and I think there’s a lot more to come from him.’
It might be fanciful to suggest that, with Forrest playing, Celtic wouldn’t be cast adrift in the title race but it would have made for a different season. ‘Absolutely, no question,’ said Lennon. ‘He is a top player, a top boy, he loves the club. He will have been missing playing more than anyone.
‘We have missed him around the place and certainly missed him on the pitch, so it’s great to have him back.’
CELTIC chairman Ian Bankier last night pledged to deliver an update to disgruntled fans on the club’s recent review of Neil Lennon’s future. The under-fire Parkhead board released a statement in December promising a review of the football operation in the New Year. And Bankier has vowed to outline plans for the future in a statement accompanying the club’s half-year trading results. Expressing sympathy for the ‘disappointment and frustration’ of supporters, he promised to provide an update on the club website when the results are released.