Burke backs Celtic veteran Forrest for Euro finals

CHRIS BURKE has predicted that James Forrest’s football intelligence and vast experience will prove invaluable to Celtic during the final cinch Premiership games of the season and tipped the winger to have a major influence on the Scottish title race.

And the former Scotland internationalist believes Forrest has, despite not playing for his country since the Euro 2020 defeat to the Czech Republic at Hampden in 2021, a good chance of forcing his way into the national squad for the Euro 2024 finals in Germany this summer if he does so.

The ex-Rangers, Cardiff City, Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest wide man (right), who is now the reserve team coach at fourthplace Kilmarnock, has not been at all surprised to see the 38-times capped 32-year-old come to the fore in the Parkhead club’s games in the past two months.

“He will have a huge influence,” he said. “It is great that he has come back in. I played in a similar position to him so I know he is an intelligent footballer. He doesn’t really rely on his pace.

“The older you get, you probably lose your pace, everybody does. But he is so intelligent, he can find spaces anyway, whether it is a one-two or a double movement. He has got the quality to finish a shot off left or right foot or cross left or right foot. Out of possession he is very good. “He has got so much experience and it comes down to players who have got experience in these situations where you need to win a title. That is probably why Brendan Rodgers has flung him in at this period.

“I am delighted for him because he has had a difficult year or so. I think that maybe he didn’t fit the system that [former Celtic manager Ange] Postecoglou played. But he is currently showing what a good footballer he is.”