James Forrest is entering the final weeks of his contract with the same quiet focus he has shown for over a decade. His current deal at Celtic expires this June, and so far, there has been no official word on an extension. At 34, he is a rare breed, having spent his entire career at the Hoops while watching dozens of other wingers come and go.
His value to the squad has changed from a locked-in starter to a reliable finisher. Martin O’Neill has used him mainly as a tactical tool to settle games or break down tiring defenses in the final twenty minutes. Even with fewer starts, his recent performance in the Scottish Cup semi-final vs St Mirren showed he still has the timing and touch that younger players often lack during big moments.
Forrest himself is clearly not looking for an exit strategy or a final payday elsewhere. He has spent seventeen years in the same dressing room and seems happy to stay as long as the manager sees him as a viable option.
He knows the pressure of the jersey and knows exactly what is expected when the stakes are highest in May.
He said: (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard), “I spoke to the club a couple of times, but the main thing I’ve always said is I’ve been here my full career and I don’t want to play anywhere else.
“The main thing now is helping the team hopefully win the league and we’re in the cup final as well.
“So I’ve made it clear that the main thing is about contributing for the team and then my situation will sort itself out.“
The winger is realistic about his fitness and his place in the pecking order behind the younger starters. He insists that his motivation comes from helping the team on the pitch rather than just being a familiar face at Lennoxtown.
He added: “He’s (Martin O’Neill’s) spoken to me a couple of times in the last couple of months.
“I just want to be here. But the main thing is that everyone works together and we try and get trophies before the end of the season, and then that will take care of itself.
“I don’t want to be anywhere else, so the club know that. So that will definitely get sorted out whenever. I’m just going to focus on the games just now.”
If the club decides to move on, they lose a massive amount of experience that is hard to buy in the transfer market. Forrest has 26 major medals in his drawer and a knack for scoring in big moments that few others can match. He is a link to the club’s most successful periods and understands the culture better than any summer signing.
From a squad balance perspective, keeping him makes sense for the bench. He doesn’t complain about his minutes and offers a direct style of play that differs from the inverted wingers currently in the starting eleven. Having a homegrown player who can fill gaps during a busy European schedule is a practical advantage for any manager.
The next few weeks will decide if this is a farewell tour or just another chapter. Fans have grown used to seeing him trot down the touchline, and his departure would leave a hole in the identity of the current team. It is a matter of whether the board values that continuity over freshening up the wage bill.
Everything depends on how the season ends and what the summer holds for Celtic. If Forrest keeps turning up with vital contributions in the run-in, a one-year extension feels like the most logical move for both. For now, he keeps his head down and waits for the phone to ring.
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It’s a no brainer to keep Jamesie for another season at least. He mada a massive impact in Sunday and he changed the recent Aberdeen gane from a draw to a win. He ua our mist decorated player and gives his all in every game he plays. He will be vital in the league rin in. Hail, hail