Martin O’Neill has made his position clear on James Forrest as the winger moves into the final weeks of his current deal. The Celtic manager wants him to stay, and not just as a squad option.
Forrest came off the bench again at Hampden and changed the game. When Celtic needed a spark in extra time, it was his run and delivery that opened St Mirren up. That moment shifted the flow. Before it, Celtic looked unsure in the final third.
His role has been clear in recent weeks. He is not starting every game, but he is coming on when matches open up. Against tired legs, his direct running still causes problems. Full-backs struggle when he isolates them. That showed again here.
There is also a pattern in the games O’Neill referenced. Aberdeen, Rangers, and now St Mirren. Different moments, same impact. Forrest enters, takes on his man, and creates something from it. It is simple, but it works.
He said: (TCW), “I would like to keep James for one more year at least, so that he can see his career through at the football club.
“I would be asking the board, I’m sure, to do it. I think James would stay for another year. He’s 34, isn’t he? 34.
“Just the little bursts, the one versus ones. He has changed a number of games for us. He changed the game at Aberdeen. I know Nygren scores the goal, but he came on and changed that. We scored from him getting the cross at Rangers as well. He’s definitely played a part.
“Neil Lennon was telling me, which I’ve known for two or three months, that he really is a proper lad.”
That idea of “little bursts” fits how Celtic are using him now. He is not asked to carry games for 90 minutes. Instead, he comes in when space appears. That timing matters. It gives him the chance to focus on beating his man rather than holding shape.
Squad balance comes into it as well. With younger wide players in the team, having someone who understands when to drive and when to hold width gives O’Neill another option late in games.
The decision now sits with the club. Forrest’s contract runs down this summer, but his recent involvement shows he is still trusted in key moments.
If Celtic are chasing games or protecting a lead in tight matches over the run-in, his role will not shrink. It may even grow.
Surely he’s earned one more contract from the one club he’s played for his whole career.
Say what you want but the guy along with Calmac is a legend at parkhead. give him another year FGS. HH.
No brainer.
We also need Scots and our own academy reared players to fulfil the quota required for European squad.