Former Celtic player Jonny Hayes, who played both with and against Forrest, praised him hugely. Hayes said Forrest is one of the best wingers he’s ever faced in football.
James Forrest was the star of the show on Wednesday night as Celtic beat 5-1 Aberdeen at Pittodrie. The winger picked up an assist and was named Man of the Match. Even though he hasn’t scored yet this season, Forrest showed why he’s still an important player for Celtic.
Forrest hasn’t had as much game time this season. But when given the chance against Aberdeen, he made the most of it. He looked sharp, made clever runs, and created two goals. Celtic won the match comfortably, and Forrest’s quality was clear to see.
At 33, Forrest is one of the oldest players in the squad and now Celtic’s most decorated player. Still, he continues to prove that he can perform at a high level. This season is the first time that Forrest hasn’t scored a goal. But while he didn’t score at Pittodrie, he played a big role in the Hoops’ win.
He said: (Sky Sports), “For me, James is a fantastic player. I have played with him and against him. He is probably the one winger that I played against in Scotland that I didn’t really enjoy.
“That kind of battle of sheer pace on the outside, when you play him on the right, and I played on the left. I didn’t enjoy it.
“He is so underrated. Criminally underrated. I know he is really decorated, but ask anybody who has worked with James Forrest how good he is when you see him in training, it’s frightening.
“He is a level above anybody else as a winger that has played in Scotland over the last couple of decades.”
Forrest has featured in the Celtic first-team for just over 16 years. He came through the youth system and made his debut in 2009. Since then, he’s played more than 500 games and won many trophies, including league titles and cups.
Many wingers have come and gone at Celtic, but Forrest has stayed and kept delivering. He’s played under several managers and in different systems, yet he continues to perform when given a chance.
He may not always grab the headlines, but his teammates and coaches know how important he is. His calmness, skill, and experience make him a valuable part of the squad.
If Forrest can stay fit and keep performing like he did against Aberdeen, he may still get that goal to keep his scoring run going. But even without goals, he’s shown that he still has plenty to offer this Celtic team.
Forrest’s performance at Pittodrie reminded everyone just how good he is. And as Jonny Hayes said, anyone who has shared a pitch with him knows exactly what he brings.
