Celtic hero James Forrest has say on Scotland Euro 2024 squad chances

JAMES FORREST insists that focusing on Celtic is his best route to starring for Scotland in Germany.

The Hoops winger built on last weekend’s superb performance from the bench against Aberdeen with two crucial goals at Dens.

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Forrest, 32, was last capped by Steve Clarke against the Czech Republic at Euro 2020.

The winger, who has won 22 major honours to go with his 38 international caps, has made it clear he’ll be available if the Scotland call comes.

Forrest said: “I’ve not got a holiday booked. You never book a holiday early in this game, it’s always last minute!

“If you ask any Scottish player, you’d want to be involved.

“I went to the last Euros, and it was a great experience from the first day of camp to the end.

“But I need to concentrate on what I am doing at Celtic, so I haven’t thought about it.

“I wasn’t in the squad in January-February time, so I have been buzzing about being back in about it with the boys.

“Since I came back into the group here five or six weeks ago, I feel I’ve really contributed when I’ve come on.

“Last weekend was really good personally, and getting into the final was great.

“I was delighted to get the start today, I scored a couple of goals and we got all three points.

“I have got on the scoresheet and helped the team a few times.

“I just want to take it game-by- game and keep helping out here.

Today was a great day all round.”
Forrest was a key man during Brendan Rodgers’ first spell at Celts, but has been so far down the pecking order yesterday was only his fourth start of the season.

He admits the months of being idle on a Saturday afternoon had become frustrating.

Forrest added: “Was it difficult when I wasn’t in the squad? Yes, it was.

“If you ask any player they will all tell you the same.

“Throughout my career I have never had it before, and it was something different for me.

“You have to believe in yourself and you know, because I was a bit older, that football can change so quickly due to injuries and suspensions.

“Especially here at Celtic, if you don’t win a game then the manager might change his mind.

“I knew that if I kept training well I was thinking to myself that I might get another chance.

“In the last five or six weeks I have got back in and I need to keep doing that to remain a part of it.

“It was probably my best spell when the manager was at the club the first time. When he came back I felt really fit from pre-season right up until November.

“We obviously have a lot of wingers in the squad, and you need to fight for your place at a big club like Celtic.

“It has never been any different. I’ve just kept training, and I’ve enjoyed being back involved in the last five or six weeks.

“I just want to look to the next game and contribute again.”
Rodgers has leaned on Forrest because he’s been over the course so many times before, and he hopes to pass on his experience to others.

He said: “We have always won trophies here. Sometimes on the outside people might talk about pressure games.

“But every game is a pressure game at Celtic. Even at the start of the season, there is pressure on every game. We have the manager, coaches and players here with the right mentality.

“Hearing the manager call me a father figure does make me feel old, but I don’t mind that.

“At Celtic, as a forward player — not just an experienced one — you need to be able to take the pressure off the team by scoring goals and having assists.

“That’s how it is, no matter what age you are.”
Forrest’s first goal was a stunning volley from the edge of the box.

He added: “That was one of my best volleys, that’s for sure. I was thrilled with it.”

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