Century Bhoy Forrest is a legend in the eyes of Ange
In need of a lift after European disappointment, Ange Postecoglou turned to the club’s most trusted supplier of feelgood tales.
With the Hoops boss preferring to use the likes of Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda and Sead Haksabanovic in his place, James Forrest had not made a start this season prior to yesterday afternoon.
As his astonishing haul of 20 winners’ medals from his 451 appearances reminds us, though, the winger is nothing if not a man for all seasons.
And when, with just under an hour’s play gone, he rose his arms aloft to celebrate what was both his hat-trick on the day and his 100th goal for the club, he delivered a warming moment for home fans that was beyond even Postecoglou’s expectations.
Even when it appeared that Gorgios Giakoumakis might be about to muscle his way into the limelight with a hat-trick of his own, fate was on Forrest’s side.
The Greek pulled up with a slight knock and was taken off when all signs were that the manager would leave him on to chase his own treble.
“It is great for Jamesie,” said the Celtic manager, who gave the green light to his new three-year deal back in May.
“He has joined an elite club – 100 goals for this club and credit to him and the way he’s had his career at the club.
“I am delighted but not surprised. There was a reason we kept him around and it wasn’t sentiment.
“When you’re putting a squad together it’s the sum of all parts that make it strong. You need players like James who is experienced, calm and has quality.
“Is he a Celtic legend? Absolutely. You don’t stay here for that amount of time otherwise – particularly in that position.
“Daizen Maeda doesn’t score for two games and everyone is on his back so to last as long as he has is testament to his character.”
Forrest wasted little time showing his quality, grabbing his first goal inside 10 minutes.
From out wide on the left, Haksabanovic turned back on himself to send an angled cross to the back post and the winger stroked the ball home.
His joy was there for all to see in his celebration and he got happier still midway through the half.
He fired in a shot and Hibs goalkeeper David Marshall blocked his shot down and over the goalline.
Sandwiched in between the two scores was Giakoumakis’s first, the Greek supplying a powerful finish to another slick move down the left.
If it all sounds a little bit routine for Celtic, that is the very much the way it felt.
Hibs manager Lee Johnson clearly took the view his team were too
timid as he paced up and down his technical area urging first one player on, then another.
If any of them did not get the message, then what he did next will have rammed it home.
For, when the visitors returned after the break, it was announced Johnson had made four changes.
Chris Cadden, Lewis Stevenson, Harry McKirdy and Mykola Kukharevych were all withdrawn.
Sent on to replace them were Marijan Cabraja, Rocky Bushiri, Kyle Magennis and Elie Youan.
When the last named beat Joe Hart with a clinical finish, there was briefly hope of a fightback.
The key word was briefly. Some 120 seconds later, Forrest smashed his third to complete his hat-trick with the help of a deflection from Paul Hanlon.
Giakoumakis then slotted home his second with a pinpoint shot in off the inside of the far post to make it 5-1.
By this stage, Hibs desperately needed some respite from Celtic’s attacks but there was none to be had with Maeda cashing in when teed up by Aaron Mooy to complete the Edinburgh side’s misery.
“Champions League football takes a lot out of you and the added energy the guys who came in brought to the game was really important,” said Postecoglou.