With only four matches left in the Scottish Premiership and a slender three-point lead at the summit, Celtic’s title aspirations received a massive boost, thanks to a masterclass from James Forrest in their latest clash against Dundee. Forrest bagged a brace in his first start since November, becoming the linchpin in Celtic’s 2-1 victory.

The winger’s stats from the encounter speaks volumes of his influence: two goals from two shots on target, showing lethal precision in front of the goal – his first goal was a thing of beauty. He significantly overperformed his expected goals (xG) of 0.59. Beyond his goals, Forrest engaged in 44 touches, with three crucial ones in the opposition box. Despite being dispossessed once and failing to win aerial duels, his 50% success rate in ground duels and a perfect tackle rate with two out of two tackles won, Forrest showed he could contribute to both phases of the game.

He is playing like a man possessed and like a player who has a point to prove after being overlooked so many times this season.

Looking ahead, Celtic’s run-in is as challenging as it gets, with back-to-back home fixtures against Hearts and Rangers that could define their season. Forrest’s timely return to form poses a pleasant dilemma for the coaching staff. Should they leverage his experience and recent momentum as a starter, or should he be utilised as an impact substitute, as they did in the Scottish Cup semi-final?

Adding to the selection complexity is the imminent return of Daizen Maeda. The fleet-footed winger’s availability for selection raises the question: Does Forrest’s recent performance warrant a continued presence in the starting eleven, or should Maeda, who offers a different dynamic upfront, be given the nod?

Forrest’s recent showcase has cemented his ability to turn a game on its head, a quality that could be invaluable during the title run-in. As the stakes get higher, his capacity for clutch moments might just tip the scales in Celtic’s favour, whether from the outset or off the bench.