STRIKE IT RICH AGAIN
Lethal Forrest capable of shooting down any opposition, says Gordon
CELTIC travelled for a tricky Champions League qualifying test in Trondheim 16 months ago on the back of a scoreless first leg and without a recognised centre-forward.
The question posed in advance of a potentially fraught night against Rosenborg was: Can James Forrest fill the role as an emergency striker?
His winning goal in 69 minutes dismissed that concern at the time. Now, though, it’s plain laughable it was ever aired.
Forrest and Celtic are back for the third time since that August 2017 success on Thursday hunting for a victory which could pave the way to the Europa League’s round of 32.
The 27-year-old does so in the form of his life. Since his red card on Celtic’s last Europa League away game — the 3-1 defeat in Salzburg on October 4 — he has scored 12 goals in 11 games.
They include five in two Nations League games for Scotland. There are no secrets for Rosenborg this time as to the danger Forrest poses.
However, that doesn’t mean they possess a clue about how to stop one of Europe’s on-form players.
For his team-mates, there has been much pleasure in watching the bashful winger blossom into the nation’s new darling, as his Celtic team-mate, Craig Gordon (right), explained.
‘I think this dressing room has known how good James is and we have experienced it,’ said the goalkeeper. ‘In training, he has run away from pretty much everybody at some point.
‘But it’s another thing doing it at that level. Also, to do it for as long as he has been now — injury-free and in form. Being the first pick in his position has really helped him. I’ve always known he has tremendous ability, the pace and direct play to trouble any opposition. Tactically and everything else, it has really come together for him.
‘When he hits top form, there are not many better and we are now seeing that on a consistent basis. It’s not just the odd game here and there, as wingers can do at times.
‘James is very consistent and when you have somebody like him in your team, it’s a great feeling to know that every time he gets the ball, something is going to happen.’ When asked if Forrest was in the category of one of the best wingers he had played with, Gordon added: ‘Yes, I would think so. There’s not too many I’d put in front of him. Especially over the last two seasons, the consistency he has shown, the amount of goals he has been involved in, shows what is possible if you continue working hard at your game and are willing to learn.
‘The manager here has been excellent for James. He has taken him that stage further, made him more aware tactically and about where he should be on the field to get these opportunities.
‘He has been able to adapt to what the manager is looking for, whereas at times before he has maybe been told to just go out and play.
‘The way we play (at Celtic), everyone has got their set roles and he has really adapted and used that to his advantage to become an even better player.’
A disillusioned Forrest had shelved new contract talks at Parkhead and was considering interest from Bolton Wanderers before Brendan Rodgers arrived as manager at Celtic.
A Hampden hat-trick for Scotland against Israel four days after his double in Albania, admitted Gordon, is the type of form to attract interest from bigger hitters than English Championship strugglers.
‘That’s the best I’ve seen from him,
When he’s on top form, there aren’t many players I would put in front of him
he was absolutely outstanding,’ said the Celtic No1.
‘Some of his touches and finishes in that Israel game were so calm. He has upped his goal tally and he’s just continuing to improve. He’s one of our go-to men in this team.
‘If he’s not scoring himself, he’s getting assists. It’s an incredible run James is on.
‘If he continues scoring as many goals and doing as well, I am sure there will still be admiring glances from other clubs.
‘He is playing so consistently well that teams are going to look — be it from down south or further afield in Europe, because there are not too many players at that level who are involved in the amount of goals as he has.
‘We are lucky to have him and, hopefully, he will continue the rare form he is in.’
Thursday’s trip to Trondheim will kick off a run of 10 games in three competitions before the winter break as Celtic try to lay the foundations for another season of success.
Victory over pointless Rosenborg will guarantee Rodgers’ men a shot at the knockout stage when hosting RB Leipzig on December 13.
‘The intent is to get results, so we’ll then go into the last game and it’s in our hands,’ said Rodgers. ‘That would be brilliant — but we first have to do the job there.
‘We’ve won there before and the team is picking up a great run of form. We want to keep that going.’