Last season Brendan Rodgers described James Forrest as the “best winger” at Celtic. It’s the type of comment you don’t usually hear from a manager, particularly one who had benched him behind Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston for large periods of the season. Yet, his words were vindicated, as the one-club man proved to be an essential figure in the run-in to Celtic’s third straight title. While there isn’t the same jeopardy in the league this season, the thirty-three-year-old’s return to the eleven has yet again coincided with an upturn in form.
James Forrest Returns To The Forefront
A Freshen Up Needed
Two weeks ago, Celtic lost their fourth game of the term, at the hands of St Johnstone. It was just the third match all season that they had failed to find the back of the net.
The front line, which included Jota and Nicolas Kuhn out wide, failed to threaten to the required level. Up against tight defences, width in a game is important, particularly if you wish to play the way Celtic do, with constant positional interchanges and fast-paced possession-play. Yet, on that day, both Kuhn and Jota failed to hit the by-line and instead looked to cut inside. Moreover, Adam Idah’s lack of final third movement meant that overall, the Saints’ backline wasn’t put under major pressure.
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Since then, having Forrest and Daizen Maeda out wide has made for a more balanced outfit. With Maeda typically reaching the by-line and Forrest able to go both ways, it gives the opposition defence more to think about.
It’s not to slander Kuhn or Jota. The former has 32 goal contributions to his name, and everyone knows the quality that Jota possesses. Yet, in recent times, the return of Maeda on the left side, and Forrest on the right has proved beneficial.
James Forrest Excels
In his substitute appearance against St Johnstone plus his two starts since, the winger has shown his quality. He is such an intelligent player, who rarely loses the ball (98% pass accuracy against Kilmarnock) but mitigates the downfalls that players with this characteristic often have. He doesn’t keep the ball for the sake of accuracy, he provides value.
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Early on against St Johnstone he cut inside and linked well with the midfield to create a few chances. However, he also often got to the by-line, and in the second half was incredibly unfortunate not to register an assist with a perfect pass put on a plate for Idah.
Plus, in his last act before being substituted, he took the ball excellently in the central areas and showed great dribbling ability to move through the St Johnstone bodies before being brought down by the arm of Daniels Balodis.
The Future Implications
Even three months away from his thirty-fourth birthday, Forrest remains an asset to Celtic. As cliché as it may sound, he is clearly a good figure to have around. Jota yesterday told BBC Sport, “There’s not a single person in the locker room that doesn’t love James. He’s a breath of fresh air. Everyone loves to play with him, to hang out with him. And, yeah, we’re just learning from him.”
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More importantly, he offers positional maturity and decision-making on the pitch that is first-class. Admittedly, he no longer owns the signature lightning pace, yet he remains impressively quick.
Transfer Planning
Having said that, his injury record in recent seasons means you cannot rely on him as a starter. However, as a squad player, he is the definition of a perfect fit. He is versatile, with just as much effectiveness on the left-hand side.
Read More: BBC Sport
All of a sudden the Celtic wide options look incredibly strong. With Maeda, Jota, Yang and Kuhn all present, should Celtic strengthen in the striker area next season, and maintain the current crop, there is an abundance of quality, balance and speed.
