Forrest set for leading role

CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers last night backed James Forrest to lead the line in Trondheim if Leigh Griffiths fails to win his Champions League fitness race.

With Moussa Dembele out and Griffiths toiling with a calf strain, Forrest got the nod to start as the lone striker in yesterday’s friendly against Sunderland. The Scotland international, a winger by trade, did not score but his performance was hailed by his manager as ‘outstanding’ after Celtic ran out easy 5-0 winners.

With the European qualifier deadlocked after last week’s 0-0 draw in Glasgow, Celtic need to score an away goal against Norwegian champions Rosenborg and Rodgers admits Forrest looks a better bet to lead the attack than Australian Tom Rogic, who was deployed there in the first leg.

‘James was outstanding,’ he said. ‘He played there as a young player and he gave the team great fluency.

‘During the week, we played Tom there and it wasn’t quite as fluent. For James, it was a lot more natural for him to spin in behind and come underneath.

‘He was very good at turning in tight spaces and I would have no hesitation in playing him there.’