Paul Hartley has backed James Forrest for a Scotland recall, with the former Celtic midfielder pointing to experience and reliability over flash.
Forrest signed a one-year extension at Celtic last week, taking him into another season at the club he has represented his entire career. It keeps a familiar figure in the building, one Martin O’Neill still leans on when the game needs settling.
Hartley knows the type. He spent two years at Celtic himself, winning two league titles and a League Cup, and sees clear value in what Forrest still brings.
Speaking on the Scottish Football Show, Hartley said:
“He’s been a great player, a one-club man. He’s shown it season upon season.
“He doesn’t start every week, but when you need him, he can be that difference.
“You need those types of players in the squad, and he’s got the know-how to winning championships.”
Forrest is no longer first choice every week, but that has not dulled his impact. O’Neill has used him carefully, often from the bench, and the winger has still found ways to influence games late on.
That is exactly where Hartley sees his value for Scotland. When asked about a potential Forrest recall to the national team, the former Hoops midfielder said:
“Why not? He’s played at a high level for a number of years. You need that type of player sometimes to maybe come off the bench in the last 20 minutes to try and open the defence up.
“We’re not blessed with a lot of wingers, good wingers. The top end of the pitch, we’ve struggled to score goals.”
It is a fair point. Scotland have lacked natural width and creativity in the final third, something Forrest has built his career on, even if his role has shifted in recent seasons.
The winger has 39 caps, dating back to his debut under Craig Levein in 2011. His last outing came in a pre-Euro 2024 friendly, despite making the squad for the tournament itself.
He did not feature in Germany, but his late-season form at Celtic forced his way back into Steve Clarke’s thinking two years ago. That door is not closed.
If Forrest finishes this campaign strongly again, Clarke will have a decision to make. Experience counts in tournament football, and there are not many in the current pool who have done it as often, or as quietly and effectively, as him.
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