James Forrest aiming for late season impact with Celtic

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·2 avril 2025

James Forrest aiming for late season impact with Celtic

James Forrest made his return from injury against Hearts at the weekend alongside Paulo Bernardo and the Scottish winger is aiming to have a late season impact with Celtic this term…

Paulo Bernardo returns. Photo Celtic FC

Celtic’s evergreen attacker has been a mainstay in the evolution of the club throughout the last decade or so, and enjoyed a renaissance under Brendan Rodgers in his first spell as boss.

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In many ways, the same thing happened during Rodgers first season back at Paradise last year, with Forrest really dragging the team through some sticky fixtures en-route to our third title in a row and the first under the Irishman in his second tenure.

His nous and experience helped the manager exponentially when helping Callum McGregor push for more domestic glory after several new signings struggled to make any impact at all.

James Forrest hit form this time last year to drive Celtic to the title

The same could not be said for the perennial figure of James Forrest, whose impact was an integral part to our success last season, along with the January addition of Adam Idah.

James is now looking to help the team once more, as we try and secure another domestic Treble this campaign. Speaking about his return from injury, the Hoops icon said to Celtic TV: “It’s been really good. That’s me been training for maybe two-and-a-half to three weeks now, and I’ve been really enjoying it. Any player knows when they’re out for a length of time, all they want to do is get back out there on the pitch with the boys, and I’ve been really enjoying it.

‘Straight after the game, I knew it was going to be a bad one”

“I think I was maybe on a couple of minutes and I felt it right away,” the one-club man stated. “I was the last sub on, and maybe with the adrenaline in the game, you can get through it, but straight after the game, I knew it was going to be a bad one.”

Brothers Alan Forrest of Hearts and James Forrest of Celticat full time during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

‘You’ve got to have the determination and work hard to get back’

At 33-years-old, the forward admitted at his age it can be dangerous to pick up a serious injury, citing the need for around the clock work to get back firing, saying: “When you get that type of injury, and obviously I’m a bit older as well, you’ve got to have the determination and work hard to get back. When you see what the boys are producing in the games they’ve played, first and foremost you look to get back training, feeling good and get back in the squad. I managed to get back on the park on Saturday as well, which was amazing. I just want to keep looking forward to every day, keep working hard, and hopefully play more games towards the end of the season.”

James Forrest back in training, photo Celtic FC

James Forrest has equalled the incomparable Bobby Lennox’s medal haul

On the quest for more medals, having equalled the incomparable Bobby Lennox’s haul back in December with that League Cup win over our arch-rivals, Forrest added: “It would motivate anyone. When you’ve been at this club from a young age, it’s always about wanting to be the best team in Scotland. It’s obviously a big club, so you want to strive to keep winning games and winning trophies. The manager the first time really brought it in as well that you don’t want to celebrate too much when you win one because you know how good it is and you want more of it.”

James Forrest in action during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

‘At this club there’s always been really good wingers’

With competition on the wings just about as high as it’s ever been in modern times at Celtic Park, the former Scotland international admitted it’s good for the club. “Since I’ve come through, making my debut when I was 18 right until now, at this club there’s always been really good wingers and there’s always been competition for places,” Forrest said. “I think if you asked all the other lads as well, it’s good for the manager and the coaches that you’ve got so many good options. Throughout the season, you play so many games, so it’s good to have that depth and quality.”

Paul Gillespie

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